Senior Manufacturing Engineer

About the role

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

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.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Manufacturing Engineering powers Rocket Lab’s factories from concept to full-scale production. We turn early ideas into manufacturable designs, build and optimise 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.

We're seeking experienced Senior Manufacturing Engineers across multiple disciplines to take ownership of complex products, lead problem-solving initiatives, and drive manufacturing excellence.

THE OPPORTUNITIES:

We're hiring across four key manufacturing disciplines:

Assembly & Integration  – Mechanical, Assembly, Propulsion, Mechanical Test

Avionics & Test  – Electronics manufacturing, electrical test, debugging systems

Composites  – Advanced materials, resins, ablatives, sandwich structures

Machining  – CNC programming, precision manufacturing, GD&T

In your application, please indicate which discipline(s) align with your experience and interests.

YOU’LL GET TO:

Own & Ship:

Own products in production as the go-to expert

Drive teams to hit production targets at top quality

Execute product improvements and design qualifications

Solve & Fix:

Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions on failures

Disposition non-conformances on flight hardware using engineering judgment and risk assessment

Bridge production, quality, supply chain, and design engineering for rapid problem-solving

Build & Improve:

Create bulletproof production procedures and processes

Design reliable assemblies and test fixtures

Develop mission-critical test methods for safety-critical systems

Champion Lean/Six Sigma continuous improvement

Lead & Scale:

Drive design reviews as DFM/DFT expert

Launch new products and revisions into production

Plan and execute capital equipment upgrades with business cases

Implement planning, quality, ERP, and data systems

Mentor & Deliver:

Train engineers and production teams

Break down complex projects and deliver on time

Establish and execute project plans autonomously

Maintain product manuals and lessons-learned docs

WHAT YOU BRING:

The Must-Haves:

Engineering degree (Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Chemical, Materials, or related)

5+ years manufacturing/production/process engineering in the trenches

Well-tested debugging complex systems on the factory floor

You ship results independently and lead teams to do the same

You influence stakeholders, assess risk fast, and implement lasting solutions

Thrive in high pressure environments – can hustle and built for speed

Your Specialty (one or more):

Avionics & Test: Expert-level debugging of electro-mechanical systems, instrumentation (oscilloscopes, power supplies, sensors, serial devices)

Composites: Deep knowledge of resins, ablatives, sandwich structures, tooling, and manufacturing processes

Machining: Advanced GD&T, inspection methods, CAM software (3/5-axis CNC), 3+ years shop experience

Assembly & Integration: Led mechanical assembly, integration, propulsion, or mechanical test operations

Extra Edge:

Aerospace/defence/high-reliability manufacturing background

Lean/Six Sigma certified

ERP/PLM systems (Siemens TeamCenter, Infor LN)

DFMEA, PFMEA, Fault Tree, root cause/corrective action expert

SPC, capacity modelling, value stream mapping

Environmental testing (vibe, shock, thermal, vacuum)

Mentored or led engineers

WHAT WE EXPECT:

You own it. Problems become solutions. Documentation gets done. Projects ship on time. You communicate clearly, lead when needed, support teammates always, and show up ready to build the future.

We take delivery incredibly seriously. Failure is not in our DNA. The work is hard, demanding, and not for the faint-hearted.

You don't go to Mars working eight to five, Monday to Friday. If you're a high performer, hungry for work with genuine impact where your engineering excellence directly shapes space exploration, national security, and critical infrastructure, you've found your place.

In return, you'll solve problems that actually matter alongside experts who run toward challenges, not away from them.

If this resonates with you, apply today!

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.

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 g.biow@rocketlabusa.com. 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.