Senior Manufacturing Engineer I/II – Assembly, Integration and Test

About the role

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 some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare feasibility studies, conduct manufacturing technology Research and Development projects
• Partner with our Design Engineering teams to incorporate Design for Manufacture into our products to ensure robustness and manufacturability at scale
• Engineer and deliver our factories – design, procure, install, validate assembly, test and verification processes
• Support Development builds to uncover early learnings and resolve issues to accelerate the 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 actions 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

Qualifications

• As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer I:
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with a focus on assembly, integration, and test of complex systems (preferably in the aerospace or automotive industry)
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tools, and equipment used in assembly and integration
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g. SolidWorks, NX, or CATIA) and PLM systems
• As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer II:
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with a focus on assembly, integration, and test of complex systems (preferably in the aerospace or automotive industry)
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tools, and equipment used in assembly and integration
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g. SolidWorks, NX, or CATIA) and PLM systems

What to Expect

We're on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that's not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other's backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.