Manufacturing Engineer - Nightshift
Rocket Lab USAAbout 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.
Manufacturing Engineering powers Rocket Lab's factories from concept to full-scale production. We're seeking Manufacturing Engineers across multiple disciplines for our late shift to 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 rockets.
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.
SCHEDULE:
- 4-Day Week (Mon–Thurs) | Late Start | Long Weekends, Every Week
- Hours: 3:00 PM – 1:30 AM
YOU'LL GET TO:
- Own & Ship:
- Become the expert on products you help build and launch
- Help teams hit production goals while maintaining quality
- Improve existing products and support new designs
- Solve & Fix:
- Investigate why things fail and implement fixes
- Make calls on whether parts meet flight standards using engineering analysis
- Connect production, quality, and design teams to solve problems fast
- Build & Improve:
- Write clear procedures so production runs smoothly every time
- Design reliable hardware and test setups
- Create test methods for critical systems
- Use Lean/Six Sigma to make things better and faster
- Lead & Scale:
- Review designs to make sure they're easy to build and test
- Help launch new products to the factory floor
- Identify equipment needs and build the business case
- Set up better systems for planning, quality tracking, and data
- Grow & Deliver:
- Mentor technicians and newer engineers
- Break big projects into manageable pieces and ship them
- Run your own projects with minimal oversight
- Document wins and lessons learned for the team
YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
Core requirements (all disciplines):
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, or similar
- 0-5 years of technical experience in a Manufacturing, Production, or Process Engineering environment
- Hands-on experience solving problems in complex manufacturing systems
- Ability to effectively deliver on complex assignments with autonomy
- Foundational knowledge in complex manufacturing processes
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
- Can-do approach and flexibility to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Additional discipline-specific experience (one or more of):
- Avionics & Test: Debugging electro-mechanical systems, understanding of instrumentation and sensors
- Composites: Knowledge of advanced composites materials, tooling, and manufacturing processes
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