Composite Technician

Rocket Lab Corporation; Auckland; On-site; NZD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock purchase program

Career development access

Unlimited coffee & snacks

Rocket Lab merchandise

Health insurance discount

Parental leave entitlements

Team social events

4 days on, 3 days off shift pattern

Evening shift allowance

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland is seeking a Composite Technician to join the Production team responsible for building and assembling components of the Electron rocket, including pressurized tanks, structural assemblies, propellent filters, payload hardware and heat shields. You will be hands-on with tools and equipment to support production and meet schedules.

You will interpret drawings, perform laminate prep and curing jobs, and contribute to the overall manufacturing quality.

Qualifications

• Trade qualified in relevant industry or 2+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Precision Lamination skills of prepreg systems.
• Precision Lamination skills of Tooling Prepreg systems.
• Knowledge of Bagging for oven and Autoclave cures.
• Interpret laminate and assembly drawings to ensure product quality.
• Perform measurements and calculations used in a marine or composite workplace.
• Interpret and apply assembly drawings to ensure product quality.
• Experience with multi-layer insulation (MLI) and heat-shield materials.

Responsibilities

• Build, assemble, and test composite parts of Electron rocket.
• Hands-on role with tools, equipment and facilities to support production and launch schedules.

Skills

Trade qualified in relevant industry

2+ years experience

Precision Lamination prepreg

Precision Lamination tooling prepreg

Bagging for oven and Autoclave cures

Read laminate and assembly drawings

Measurements in marine/composite

MLI & heat-shield materials

Excellent communication

Team environment & autonomous work

Read & follow manufacturing drawings

Initiative under pressure

Computer-literate with mobile devices

Job description

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.

What You'll Get To Do

As part of the Production team at Rocket Lab, the Composites team is responsible for building and assembling numerous parts of the Electron rocket. From pressurized tanks, Structural Assemblies, Propellent Filters right through to Payload hardware and Heat shields. You will undertake all aspects of the build required during production, while adhering to Rocket Lab’s High Standards of Quality, as well as meeting the schedule demand set out by the production leadership team.

As a Composite Technician, you will be hands on, working with tools, equipment and/or facilities to build, launch or test Rocket Lab launch vehicles or components. Your responsibilities contribute to the overall production and launch schedule.

You'll Bring These Qualifications

• Trade qualified in relevant industry or must be able to demonstrate 2+ years of relevant industry experience
• Precision Lamination skills of prepreg systems
• Precision Lamination skills of Tooling Prepreg systems
• Knowledge of Bagging for oven and Autoclave cures
• Interpret and apply laminate and assembly drawings to ensure product quality
• Perform measurements and calculations used in a marine or composite workplace
• Interpret and apply assembly drawings to ensure product quality
• Previous experience in multi-layer insulation (MLI) and heat-shield materials

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• The ability to work effectively in a team environment as well as autonomously
• Able to read, understand and follow manufacturing instructions and drawings
• A high work ethic, always seeking more responsibility. Able to work long hours if required
• Takes initiative
• Remains calm under pressure
• Computer literate, and comfortable using smartphones and tablets

Rocket Lab Employee Benefits

• The opportunity to work on innovative and ground-breaking technology
• An employee stock purchase program
• Access to world leading experts to develop your career
• Unlimited barista coffee, fruit, and snacks
• Rocket Lab merchandise – T-shirts, mission patches etc.
• Discounted health insurance with Southern Cross
• Additional parental leave entitlements
• A vibrant team culture with social activities throughout the year
• 4 days on, 3 days off shift pattern.
• Evening shift allowance where applicable

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 [e-mail] 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.