Senior Manufacturing Engineer

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. 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 FROM YOU:   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.

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