Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Avionics & Test

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable scientific exploration, Earth observation, climate-change mitigation, national security, and new technology demonstrations. Our Electron rocket is the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered over 230 satellites to orbit. We are also developing Neutron, a reusable medium-lift launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds satellites, payloads, and components, including spacecraft for NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

About the role

This role centers on testing and avionics, involving hands-on debugging of electro-mechanical and avionics systems, optimizing manufacturing processes, and supporting product design for manufacturability. It includes troubleshooting production issues, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving process improvements in a manufacturing engineering environment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare feasibility studies and conduct manufacturing technology Research & Development projects
• Partner with Design Engineering teams to incorporate Design for Manufacture into products to ensure robustness and manufacturability at scale
• Engineer and deliver factories – design, procure, install, validate assembly, test, and verification processes
• Support Development builds to uncover early learnings and resolve issues to accelerate production ramp-up
• Take engineering ownership of production lines to remove blockers, improve yield, and increase build efficiency
• Triage and diagnose failures, conduct deep technical investigations, and determine the right path forward, including risk mitigation and root cause resolution
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve complex issues
• Drive process improvements across manufacturing, test, and integration
• Contribute to change management, assessing risk and impact of design or process changes
• Support business system and process improvements to drive increased organizational effectiveness and efficiency

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or similar
• 5+ years of technical experience in a Manufacturing, Production, or Process Engineering environment
• Hands-on experience proactively identifying and solving systemic multifaceted problems in complex manufacturing systems
• Ability to effectively deliver on multiple complex multifaceted assignments simultaneously with autonomy
• Ability to effectively coach and mentor others to raise the bar across multiple teams
• Detailed technical knowledge in complex manufacturing processes
• Hands-on technical experience debugging complex electro-mechanical systems in a manufacturing environment
• Significant experience with data acquisition and analyses

Preferred Qualifications

• Working experience with environmental acceptance/production acceptance testing, such as vibration, shock, thermal, and vacuum
• Understanding of instrumentation, interfaces, and sensors including power supplies, oscilloscopes, serial devices, switch topologies, accelerometers, thermocouples, RTDs, and 4-20mA sensors
• Experience with designing, implementing, and supporting a production line and/or build area
• Experience transitioning products from design to production as part of a cross-functional team in a fast-paced, iterative design environment
• Demonstrated experience with DFMEA, PFMEA methodologies, Fault Tree Analysis, Pareto analysis, root cause, and corrective action

Work 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.

Pay

Base Pay Range (CA Only): $115,000 USD - $155,000 USD. Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience.

Benefits

• Company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in the company’s success
• 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
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Subsidized EV charging
• Onsite fitness centers (where available) and discounted gym memberships
• Complimentary snacks and beverages
• 50% employee discount on Rocket Lab merchandise
• Various other employee discounts

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations.