Senior Reaction Wheel Engineer

Job Ref: 4517847003 | Type: (a) Full-time

Rocket Lab is a vertically integrated provider of small launch services, satellites, and spacecraft components. Our mission is to open access to space to improve life on Earth. Our team is over 1,300 people strong and we’re adding to it every week. Collaboration is at our core – every idea is heard, and everyone makes a difference. Teams are nimble, decisions are made quickly, and we are action oriented.

Senior Reaction Wheel Engineer

As a Senior Reaction Wheel Engineer at Rocket Lab, you will be required to work on projects to develop new space components that support the company evolution from a launch provider to an end-to-end space solutions company.

Rocket Lab is currently combining manufacturing capabilities and innovative technologies to make world-leading satellite hardware accessible to more customers, in a high growth industry.

We are looking for someone with expertise in satellite reaction wheels, momentum wheels, or control-moment gyros.

This position will work closely and develop strong relationships with a variety of different Engineers, Technicians, and subject matter experts across a range of departments to enable the manufacturing and testing of new reaction wheels designs.

Responsibilities

1. Technical Knowledge: Uses technical expertise to define standard of excellence for his/her team; consistently identifies the right/best solution when faced with an engineering challenge; can navigate and complete tasks within their technical system as well as related technical systems; coaches others in best practice for pertinent technical system.
2. Documentation: Can create a technical document pertinent to their role/expertise; can approve and provide feedback and improvements on technical documents pertinent to their role/expertise; steers development or improves the standard of their pertinent technical documents.
3. Project Management: Identifies additional projects and distributes to team members; sets group/business priority; continuously delivers on-time; over-achieves initial goals through technical expertise; adjusts and refines scope of projects to align with company priorities and objectives.
4. Risk Based Decision Making: Correctly assesses risk before it happens and puts measures in place to mitigate; verifies long-term mitigations are effective so that future product is not impacted.
5. Ownership: Will take the lead to any problem which can't be resolved by peers, regardless of process, without being asked, and deliver results; can coach others in problem solution effectiveness.
6. Applied Business Solutions: Able to identify engineering challenges, provide feedback, and implement a solution to improve cost, quality, reliability, and/or delivery before it happens; verifies that solutions are successful and communicates learning about effectiveness.
7. Strategic Planning: Can create a personal strategic plan/AOP without supervision or steering; can create or steer technical department and business goals/objectives; adjusts and refines as business evolves.
8. Attitude: Positive attitude; approachable; consistently demonstrates "How can I help?" mentality; no task is beneath them; sees challenges as motivation; does not get discouraged or demotivated by tough situations and problems; continually raises the ceiling/moves the standard of excellence up to continually keep the team developing.
9. Communication: Able to communicate with peers, subordinates, and superiors; ensures meetings stay on track and constantly steer meetings to increase value add; concisely and accurately conveys technical information to steer actions; educates other engineers in technical areas to improve competency; can create presentations, metrics, and emails that concisely highlight information and steer team on biggest areas of impact.
10. Flexibility: Capable of developing criteria for acceptable level of cross-training and improving training processes and procedures; capable of being deputy for lead or manager with minimal supervision for a given timeframe.
11. Professionalism: Punctual; adheres to company policies and standards; able to coach on appropriate professional behaviour.
12. Debate and Logical Skills: Can listen and internalize all sides of the discussion; offers additional information, viewpoints, and insight during discussions; uses logical reasoning to progress debates; willing to listen and change beliefs when challenged; capable of "tie-breaking" through technical expertise or background.
13. Health and Safety: Ensure health and safety policies and standard operating procedures are followed; correct PPE is worn in designated areas; report near-misses and incidents promptly.
14. Other: Domestic and international travel may be required; additional duties as reasonably required; adheres to company policies and procedures.

Role Specific Deliverables/Outcomes

1. Lead design of new RWA products for satellite constellations.

Skills and Experience

Essential: Proven experience in the design and manufacture of satellite reaction wheels, momentum wheels, or control-moment gyros.

Desirable: Vacuum tribology; microvibration measurement and mitigation; rotor balancing; rolling bearing analysis; magnetics design; brushless motor drive circuits; electronics for space environment; control systems and estimators; failure investigation and root cause analysis.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S Department of State.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.