Engineering Lead, Space Systems & Launch Ops

Rocketlab; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland seeks an Engineering Leader to steer a team delivering production tooling, ground support equipment, and launch infrastructure. You will act as SME for design for manufacturing, testing, quality control, and risk assessment, driving robust planning and resource allocation to meet aggressive deadlines.

This role collaborates across the Neutron program with NZ and US sites, mentoring engineers and shaping ownership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing engineering, or related technical field.
• 6+ years of engineering design experience.
• 1+ years in engineering management, team management, project management, or similar.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of engineers delivering projects across production tooling, ground support equipment, and test and launch infrastructure
• Act as a subject matter expert and technical decision maker in design for manufacturing, testing, quality control, risk assessment, and productivity
• Drive robust planning and resource allocation to deliver projects to aggressive deadlines
• Collaborate with diverse teams across the Neutron program to support development, production, test, and operational needs
• Priorities and manage delivery of capital projects to introduce new capabilities and refine existing ones as we scale production and launch cadence
• Deliver projects and capabilities across multiple sites in New Zealand and the USA
• Mentor, coach, and develop the team’s capability and culture of ownership and execution
• Manage professional development for engineers and recruit new talent as required

Skills

Engineering leadership

Team management

Design for manufacturing

Project planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing engineering, or related technical field

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Rocket Lab in Auckland seeks an Engineering Leader to steer a team delivering production tooling, ground support equipment, and launch infrastructure. You will act as SME for design for manufacturing, testing, quality control, and risk assessment, driving robust planning and resource allocation to meet aggressive deadlines.

This role collaborates across the Neutron program with NZ and US sites, mentoring engineers and shaping ownership.