Lead, Manufacturing Engineer Space Systems

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 humanitys 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.

MANUFACTURING

Manufacturing Engineering powers Rocket Labs factories from concept to full-scale production. We turn early ideas into manufacturable designs build and optimize the systems that make them real and constantly push for faster better smarter ways to build. We engineer the factories that build the rockets boosting quality cutting cost and accelerating build rate.

LEAD MANUFACTURING ENGINEER - SPACE SYSTEMS

This role focuses on improving manufacturing processes through feasibility studies supporting product design for manufacturability and leading factory setup and optimization. It involves troubleshooting production issues collaborating with cross-functional teams driving process improvements and supporting organizational efficiency through change management and business system enhancements while also taking on leadership responsibilities to guide teams and initiatives.

WHAT YOULL GET TO DO:

• Prepare feasibility studies and conduct manufacturing technology Research & 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 designprocure installvalidateassemblytestand 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 improveyieldand increase build efficiency
• Triage and diagnose failures conduct deep technicalinvestigationsanddeterminethe right path forward including risk mitigation actions and root cause resolution
• Collaborate with cross functional teams to resolve complex issues
• Drive process improvements across manufacturingtestand 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

YOULL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Mechanical Mechatronics Computer Engineering or similar
• 5 years oftechnicalexperience 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 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
• Personnel leadership experience
• Capital and facilities justification project management and implementation
• Perform periodic reviews with direct employees
• Interview and hire candidates to fill new roles
• Create team goals and metrics to drive continuous improvement projects

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• 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 a part of 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

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.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Were on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth but thats 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 others 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.

Important information:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder) or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

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.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia Japan New Zealand Switzerland the European Union or a country that is part of NATO or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations click here ITAR Regulations.