# Principal Combustion Devices Engineer at Rocket Lab

> United States · Principal · Software engineering · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Arocketlab%3A8017071003 (read 2026-11-04).

## Facts (observed)

- Company: [Rocket Lab](https://alderhq.app/companies/rocket-lab)
- Location text: Long Beach, CA; EDC
- Where it can be done from (inferred): United States (evidence: "Location: Long Beach, CA; EDC")
- Posted: 2026-10-08 (27 days ago)
- First seen by alder: 2026-11-03 · last verified: 2026-11-04
- Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times
- Apply on the employer's site: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/rocketlab/jobs/8017071003

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: $212k–$350k per year (from the listing's pay field)
- Market band for similar posted roles (Los Angeles, n 45): p25 $200k, median $217k, p75 $257k

## Description (the employer's text)

### ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

NEUTRON

Neutron is a medium-lift launch vehicle being developed by Rocket Lab, a publicly traded end-to-end space company. The rocket can deliver the mega constellations of tomorrow, enable interplanetary payloads, and support human spaceflight. As a reusable platform, Neutron will deliver a very cost-effective and reliable launch solution leveraging Rocket Lab’s proven history with Electron – the third most launched rocket, worldwide, in 2024. If you’re interested in joining an incredible team in a fast-paced and rewarding environment, this is your opportunity.

### PRINCIPAL COMBUSTION DEVICES ENGINEER

Based out of Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Principal Combustion Devices Engineer will be responsible for the development of one or more combustion devices (preburners, main injectors, thrust chambers assemblies and vacuum nozzles). These devices are an integral portion of the 200,000 lbf Archimedes engine, which operates in a demanding but efficient ox-rich, staged combustion architecture.

In this role, you’ll take ownership of all aspects of a component: design and analysis, manufacturing and test support, and successful flights and subsequent, high-cadence, re-flights. By doing so, you will help propel the Neutron rocket, expanding human capabilities in space and providing value to the company and its shareholders.

### WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO

- Design, analyze, and perform trades studies to achieve programmatic targets.
- Define requirements, test and flight qualification plans.
- Work with the interface owners, like turbomachinery and engine systems teams, to make a high-end product that could be iterated fast and seamlessly.
- Work with manufacturing and build engineers to design easily manufacturable, cost-effective, beautiful parts.
- Work with the test and launch teams to interpret data and provide solutions to enable a high cadence – of tests, flights and re-flights.
### PRINCIPAL COMBUSTION DEVICES ENGINEER, YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent
- 12+ years of combustion device design experience
- In-depth knowledge of combustion and fluid dynamics, heat transfer and structural mechanics.
- Fundamental understanding of design principals and manufacturing methods.
### THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

- Master’s or a PhD.
- Advanced proficiency in NX, ANSYS Mechanical, StarCCM, MATLAB and GD&T.
- Proficiency in niche software like: TDK, ROCCID, PERCORP, CEA, ROCETS.
- Reacting flow CFD.
- Expertise in high-speed data/video analysis in time and frequency domains.
- Experience with designing reusable, propulsively landing rocket engines.
- Experience in an iterative and scrappy development environment.
This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas

Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.

Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

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Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Arocketlab%3A8017071003 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.