Rocket Lab USA
Launch services and spacecraft components provider
Ground Systems Engineer 2 - Structures & Mechanisms
+ Company stock + Cash incentives + Employee Stock Purchase Program
The role includes both remote and in-person support during installation, commissioning, testing, and troubleshooting.
About the job
- An ABET-accredited Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent is required.
- At least 2 years of directly applicable design, testing, and/or operations experience within the aerospace or industrial sectors is required.
- Experience designing large structures and mechanisms is required.
- Proficiency in computer-aided design software, specifically NX and SolidWorks, is required.
- Design launch pad and test site fixed assets, including test stands, launch mounts, and gantries.
- Design launch vehicle support equipment, including transportation fixtures, lifting apparatuses, and breakover fixtures.
- Design large mechanisms, including umbilicals, hold-downs, and strongbacks.
- Perform two-dimensional and three-dimensional modeling using computer-aided design software, specifically NX.
- Perform system sizing and analysis using hand calculations and numerical methods.
- Produce risk assessments, system hazard analyses, and failure modes and effects analyses.
- Select components and develop and maintain bills of materials.
- Interact with suppliers and internal teams.
- Perform failure investigations and root cause analysis.
- Support maintenance program development.
- Collaborate with test and operations teams to ensure systems are fully functional.
- Support pad technicians remotely and in person during installation, commissioning, testing, and troubleshooting activities.
- Develop and execute test plans to validate the performance of launch pad systems and vehicle interfaces.
- Design, develop, and maintain test equipment.
- Experience with launch pad systems, or with oil and gas, process, mining, or similar industries.
- Experience with structural design and analysis.
- Experience with software-based analysis tools such as RISA, ANSYS, GFSSP, AFT, Thermal Desktop, or equivalent.
- Experience designing fluid systems to ASME, ASTM, and/or NASA ground system standards.
- Ability to read, understand, and produce fabrication drawings.
- Prior experience through education, internships, or full-time employment directly applicable to the design of structures or mechanisms.
About the company
Rocket Lab USA provides end-to-end space services including launch, spacecraft components, and mission support for government, defense, and commercial customers. Its Electron small-lift launcher delivers dedicated missions for small satellites, using carbon composite structures and 3D-printed Rutherford engines for high launch frequency. The Space Systems unit makes spacecraft components and the Photon satellite bus, and the company is developing Neutron for larger constellations and interplanetary missions, as well as HASTE for hypersonic tech tests. By combining in-house launch and hardware with strategic acquisitions, Rocket Lab offers integrated mission solutions to reduce risk and complexity, aiming to make space missions faster, more reliable, and more accessible.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Long Beach, California
Founded
2006
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Rocket Lab booked $437 million new contracts in Q2 2026, lifting backlog.
- Synspective awarded 16 more Electron launches through 2030, extending recurring revenue.
- MACH-TB 2.0's 20-flight HASTE deal and Space Force awards deepen defense demand.
What critics are saying
- Neutron slipped to Q4 2026 after stage-1 tank failure, threatening first-launch credibility.
- Iridium's $8 billion acquisition closes mid-2027, creating integration and leverage strain.
- A failed Neutron debut or another major anomaly would crush Rocket Lab's valuation.
What makes Rocket Lab USA unique
- Rocket Lab launched 96 Electron missions by September 19, 2026, proving cadence.
- Its vertical stack spans rockets, satellites, solar cells, and spacecraft components.
- IMM Apex offers 31.5% efficiency, 40% lower mass, and germanium-free supply.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
Paid Parental Leave
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Flexible Spending Account
Company Equity
Wellness Program
Phone/Internet Stipend
Childcare Support
Gym Membership
Employee Discounts
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Professional Development Budget
Conference Attendance Budget
Flexible Work Hours
Hybrid Work Options
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↓ -2%2 year growth
↓ -1%Rocket Lab shares have dropped 51% from their 52-week high of $151, but analyst Pierre Ferragu of New Street Research has set a Street-high price target of $150, implying roughly 104% upside. The stock currently trades at $73.61, with a consensus Wall Street target of $109.37. The decline stems from delays to Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket, which saw its launch window narrow after a stage-1 tank test failure. Delivery to the pad is now targeted for Q4 2026. The company also pulled $1.08 billion through its ATM programme in Q2, raising dilution concerns. Ferragu's bullish thesis centres on Neutron commercialisation at $50 to $55 million per flight, growing government contracts including a $397 million Space Force award, and the pending Iridium Communications acquisition. Rocket Lab maintains a $2.36 billion backlog.
Global government bond yields near 4% are reshaping investor thinking about risk and resilience, drawing attention to aerospace and defence suppliers at the intersection of security priorities and long-term government spending. General Electric, now focused as GE Aerospace, generates the bulk of its revenue from Commercial Engines & Services at about US$37.7 billion, with Defense & Propulsion Technologies adding roughly US$11.5 billion. The business carries a market value near US$331.2 billion. Its defence backlog stands above US$30 billion, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.7x. Rocket Lab combines launch services with satellite hardware, generating about US$544 million from Space Systems and roughly US$225 million from Launch Services. The company carries a market value near US$42.1 billion.
Rocket Lab holds $2.4 billion in cash and has booked a $2.36 billion order book, yet trades at 58.9 times sales compared to the S&P 500's 3.1 times. The company's market valuation of $45.3 billion appears to hinge on Neutron, its larger rocket that hasn't yet flown. The company has flown 96 Electron missions, its smaller rocket. Neutron is priced at $50 million to $55 million per launch and has already secured customers, including Kepler Communications. Launch Services generated roughly $200 million over the past twelve months, representing 26% of total revenue. Space Systems, the satellite-building division, accounts for the larger portion. About four Neutron launches annually would match current launch revenue. The company burned $110.1 million in cash during Q2 whilst narrowing operating losses to 29% of revenue from 69% three years ago. The stock has declined 24% over three months.
Redwire and Rocket Lab are positioned as alternative plays in the growing space industry, with both companies potentially doubling by 2027. Redwire focuses on space infrastructure and defence technology, supplying spacecraft platforms, satellite components, and power systems to government and defence customers. The company is expanding its Huntsville campus by 164,000 square feet for manufacturing and engineering capacity. It also announced its first commercial SpaceMD mission on SpaceX's Starfall spacecraft for pharmaceutical development in space. Rocket Lab operates beyond its Electron rocket, building satellites for the US government, including Space Force programmes. The company plans its first Neutron reusable medium-lift rocket launch within 12 months. Rocket Lab has agreed to acquire satellite communications company Iridium, with the deal expected to close in mid-2027 pending regulatory approvals and has completed financing for the cash portion.
MISSION SUCCESS: Rocket Lab launches 96th Electron mission. MAHIA, New Zealand, Sept. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched the latest Earth-observation satellite to space for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) company, Synspective. The 'Owl By The Dozen' mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 3:22pm NZST on September 19, 2026 and delivered the 12th StriX satellite directly into an exact 572km low Earth orbit for Synspective's Earth-monitoring constellation. The launch marks Rocket Lab's 96th Electron flight and its 17th launch of 2026, underscoring Electron's unmatched operational cadence in commercial small-lift launch globally. This mission also extends Rocket Lab's 100% mission success record across its multi-year launch partnership with Synspective. Mission Highlights: * Global Launch Leadership: With 17 launches completed so far in 2026, Electron continues to lead the global commercial small-lift sector in frequency and reliability. * Pinpoint Orbital Accuracy: Electron's Kick Stage placed the StriX satellite into its 572km orbit with pinpoint accuracy, maximizing on-orbit lifetime and supporting immediate integration of this latest satellite into Synspective's constellation. * Constellation Expansion: Rocket Lab has 15 additional dedicated Electron missions manifested through the end of the decade to complete Synspective's commercial SAR constellation. 'Owl By The Dozen' launch images: click here 'Owl By The Dozen' launch broadcast: click here Rocket Lab Media Contact Murielle Baker [email protected] About Rocket Lab Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) is an end-to-end space company delivering rockets, satellites, and spacecraft components for commercial, government, and defense missions. Driven by its industry-leading small-lift rockets Electron and HASTE and its upcoming reusable Neutron medium-lift rocket, Rocket Lab delivers reliable and responsive launch for the world's most important missions from constellation deployment to missile defense. Rocket Lab's satellites and components have powered more than 1,700 missions in Earth orbit, as well as deep-space exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Learn more at www.rocketlabcorp.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy, are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "potential," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "strategy," "future," "could," "would," "project," "plan," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at https://investors.rocketlabcorp.com which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.