Rocket Lab

Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Assembly, Integration and Test

Rocket Lab$115K — $170K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, particularly in assembly, integration, and test of complex systems (8+ for Level II).
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tools, and equipment in assembly and integration.
  • Proficiency in CAD software (e.g. SolidWorks, NX, or CATIA) and PLM systems.

Responsibilities

  • Prepare feasibility studies and spearhead Research and Development in manufacturing technology.
  • Collaborate with Design Engineering teams to implement Design for Manufacture principles for scalable products.
  • Engineer production lines, including design, procurement, installation, and validation of assembly and testing processes.
  • Support development builds to identify early issues and accelerate production ramp-up.
  • Take engineering ownership of production lines to eliminate barriers and enhance production efficiency.
  • Triage and diagnose failures, and conduct thorough investigations for root cause analysis.
  • Drive process improvements across manufacturing, test, and integration operations.

Benefits

  • Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
  • Comprehensive medical plans (HMO, PPO, zero-cost HDHP with HSA contribution), dental and vision coverage.
  • Paid vacation and sick time, plus 11 paid holidays.
  • Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
  • Paid parental leave, disability, and life insurance, along with a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
  • Additional perks including subsidized EV charging, gym discounts, and complimentary snacks.
Full Job Description
SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER I/II - ASSEMBLY, INTEGRATION AND TEST (AIT):

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer I/II, specializing in Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT), you will play a critical role in ensuring the successful production, assembly, and testing of Rocket Lab's cutting-edge spacecraft.

This role requires a deep understanding of manufacturing engineering principles, hands-on experience with complex systems, and a passion for solving challenging technical problems. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design, production, quality, and test engineering, to ensure the delivery of high-quality products on time and within budget.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:
  • 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

(This position can be hired as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer I or Senior Manufacturing Engineer Level II)

QUALIFICATIONS YOU'LL BRING AS A SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER I - ASSEMBLY, INTEGRATION AND TEST (AIT):
  • 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.

QUALIFICATIONS YOU'LL BRING AS A SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER II - ASSEMBLY, INTEGRATION AND TEST (AIT):
  • 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.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:
  • Master's degree in the related engineering field.
  • Experience in the aerospace industry, particularly with launch vehicles or spacecraft.
  • Familiarity with composite materials and structures.
  • Hands-on experience with automation and robotics in manufacturing.
  • Experience with environmental testing (vibration, thermal, vacuum) and associated test equipment.
  • Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles with excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure in a fast, multifaceted 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.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading 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, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.

Base Pay Range (CA Only)

$115,000-$170,000 USD

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is a private American aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider. The company was founded in 2006 by New Zealander Peter Beck. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket is designed to launch small payloads of up to 300 kg into low Earth orbit. The company has launched several successful missions and has contracts with NASA and other organizations. Rocket Lab has raised over $200 million in funding and has offices in the United States and New Zealand.
Learn more about Rocket Lab
Size
500 employees
Market Cap
$1.6 billion
Industry
Founded
2006
NASDAQ

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