Lead Launch Operations Engineer

Rocket Lab Corporation; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab Corporation is seeking a Senior Engineer - Test and Launch Operations to provide hands-on technical leadership within the Test and Launch Operations team in the UK. You will drive operational improvements, fill key on-console roles, and enable cross-team problem solving to ensure missions launch on time with low risk.

The role requires 5+ years in engineering, test, and/or operations, plus the ability to read detailed schematics and follow complex instructions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronic Engineering, or equivalent.
• 5+ years' experience in engineering, test, and/or operations.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow detailed schematics, drawings, and instructions.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to work at heights and in confined spaces.

Responsibilities

• Identify and solve engineering challenges during test and launch campaigns.
• Perform operator duties during test and launch campaigns, including development, qualification, and flight acceptance testing.
• Facilitate inter-team problem solving to resolve issues impacting launch capability.
• Uphold and contribute to engineering best practices in Test and Launch Operations.
• Continuously improve and streamline testing and operational activities.
• Identify and implement quality, efficiency, and cost improvements.
• Optimize and automate checkout, processing, testing, and operations.
• Take ownership of process improvement initiatives and drive common processes and tools across Integrated Operations.
• Develop and implement solutions to support increasing operational cadence.
• Lead responsibilities in line with project priorities and timelines.

Skills

Communication skills

Self-driven

Detail-oriented

Pressure handling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD systems

LabVIEW

PLC development

Python

Java

Job description

Rocket Lab Corporation is seeking a Senior Engineer - Test and Launch Operations to provide hands-on technical leadership within the Test and Launch Operations team in the UK. You will drive operational improvements, fill key on-console roles, and enable cross-team problem solving to ensure missions launch on time with low risk.

The role requires 5+ years in engineering, test, and/or operations, plus the ability to read detailed schematics and follow complex instructions.