Manufacturing Engineering Intern - Composites

Rocket Lab; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hands-on tooling experience

Space industry exposure

Mentorship from composites engineers

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Intern for its Warkworth Composite Complex to help design production tooling and develop efficient process routings for composite parts. You will create CAD models, detailed drawings, and clear work instructions to support technicians building flight-quality hardware.

You will own selected composites parts from concept to production, collaborating with development engineers and the production team to improve efficiency, repeatability, and quality

Qualifications

• Pursuing or recently completed Bachelors in Mechanical Eng.
• Good spatial awareness and problem-solving mindset.
• Attention to detail and quality.

Responsibilities

• Design production tooling (molds, jigs, fixtures) for composite parts.
• Develop step-by-step process routings from raw materials to final inspection.
• Create clear work instructions with visuals for operators.
• Support qualification testing and tooling validation.
• Document tooling specs and usage requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams to ensure manufacturability.

Skills

Spatial visualization

Hands-on problem solving

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Proactive communication

Willingness to learn

Collaborative mindset

Ownership mindset

Positive attitude

Challenge respectfully

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

CAD (CATIA/SolidWorks/NX)

Job description

Manufacturing Engineering Intern - Composites

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.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We're looking for a motivated intern to join our Manufacturing Engineering team at our Warkworth Composite Complex. As a Manufacturing Engineering Intern - Composites, you'll be at the heart of the action, figuring out how to build the structural composites of the Neutron rocket.

As a manufacturing engineer, you'll collaborate with development engineers to design efficient, high-quality parts and work closely with production teams to bring the rocket to life. Your role will focus on designing production tooling, developing process routings, and creating detailed work instructions for the fabrication of composite components, with the goal of improving process efficiency, repeatability, and quality.

You'll take ownership of selected composite parts from concept through to production, designing the tooling needed to build them, defining how they'll be manufactured, and creating the instructions that enable our technicians to produce flight-quality hardware. This is a hands-on opportunity to see your work directly contribute to building rocket components that will fly to space.

This is an opportunity to work on real operational challenges and contribute to missions that are literally reaching for the stars.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Tooling Design:

• Design production tooling (e.g., molds, jigs, fixtures) required for the layup, curing, trimming, and assembly of composite parts
• Generate 2D/3D CAD models and detailed drawings for tooling fabrication
• Collaborate with the tooling shop and suppliers to ensure manufacturability and timely delivery
• Support tooling build activities and qualification testing
• Document tooling specifications and usage requirements

Process Routing Development:

• Develop step-by-step process routings for composite parts, detailing all manufacturing operations from raw material preparation to final inspection
• Define process parameters, equipment, and materials required at each stage
• Create manufacturing bill of materials (BOM) for assigned parts
• Incorporate best practices for safety, quality, and efficiency
• Review and release process routings in collaboration with engineering and production teams

Work Instruction Creation:

• Create clear, concise, and visual work instructions for operators and technicians
• Include photos, diagrams, and key process controls to ensure clarity
• Ensure instructions comply with company standards and industry regulations
• Test work instructions with production technicians and iterate based on feedback
• Review and release finalized work instructions

Implementation & Qualification:

• Support production teams in building parts using your tooling, routings, and work instructions
• Build parts alongside technicians to validate processes and identify improvement opportunities
• Maintain full manufacturing records for qualification purposes
• Collect feedback from operators and incorporate lessons learned
• Document continuous improvement actions and recommendations

Documentation & Reporting:

• Create comprehensive project documentation including tooling designs, process routings, and work instructions
• Prepare a final report detailing deliverables, lessons learned, and continuous improvement actions
• Present project outcomes to stakeholders
• Hand over all deliverables to support ongoing production

General Responsibilities:

• Take ownership for completion of tasks personally delivering results
• Commit to and complete tasks within expected time frame, holding yourself accountable
• Manage your own task list and execute allocated tasks to assigned deadlines
• Communicate effectively with peers and stakeholders using appropriate mediums
• Support specific tasks for other teammates when asked and appropriately trained
• Ensure health and safety policies and standard operating procedures are followed
• Tooling designed, built, and qualified for selected composite part(s)
• Manufacturing bill of materials and routings developed, reviewed, and released
• Work instructions developed, reviewed, and released
• Part(s) built and qualified with full manufacturing records
• Comprehensive report with lessons learned and continuous improvement actions

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

MUST HAVE:

• Currently studying or recently completed a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Mechanically minded with strong spatial visualization skills
• Hands-on problem solver with systematic thinking
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Attention to detail and a passion for quality
• Proactive communicator, comfortable seeking clarification and feedback
• Eagerness to learn new tools and technologies
• Collaborative mindset, able to work with cross-functional teams
• Takes ownership for completion of tasks by delivering results
• Ensures tasks and priorities assigned by leadership are understood
• Positive attitude and approachable demeanor
• Challenges respectfully and listens when required

NICE TO HAVE:

• Knowledge of structural composites manufacturing processes
• Experience with composite layup, curing, or trimming
• CAD experience (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX)
• Understanding of composite materials and fabrication techniques
• Experience creating technical documentation or work instructions
• Familiarity with manufacturing engineering principles
• Knowledge of quality standards and process control
• Hands-on workshop or fabrication experience
• Previous internship or work experience (though not required)
• Passion for aerospace, space technology, and innovation

WHAT WE OFFER

• Hands-on experience designing and building production tooling for rocket structures
• Opportunity to see your work fly to space on the Neutron rocket
• Direct impact on how composite components are manufactured at Rocket Lab
• Mentorship from experienced composites engineers and manufacturing professionals
• Professional development in composites manufacturing, tooling design, and process engineering
• Collaborative work environment at our Warkworth Composites Complex
• Exposure to advanced composite materials and aerospace manufacturing techniques
• Opportunity to work alongside skilled composite technicians in a production environment
• Experience with the full manufacturing lifecycle from design through qualification
• Potential pathway to future career opportunities at Rocket Lab

Start Date: November 2026

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:

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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