Team Lead - Ground Systems

InvestedintheMission; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland is seeking an experienced Engineering Leader to steer a team across production tooling, ground support equipment, and test infrastructure. You will drive manufacturing-focused decisions and ensure delivery on aggressive schedules across multiple sites.

The role requires 6+ years in engineering design, 1+ year in management, and proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, with opportunities to impact global lunar and orbital missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing engineering or related 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.

Skills

Leadership

Engineering management

Project management

Design for manufacturing

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing engineering

Tools

Siemens NX/Teamcenter

Jira

Confluence

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.

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is a global leader in launch and space systems. Our mission is to open access to space to improve life on Earth. We design, build, and launch advanced rockets and spacecraft, enabling innovative missions for commercial, civil, defense, and academic customers. Join us as we build the future of space.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

Engineering Leadership

• 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

Engage with a Global Organization

• 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

People Leadership

• 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

YOU'LL BRING THESE 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

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Experience with large tooling, equipment, or structure design; launch pad systems; or industries such as oil & gas, process, or mining
• Familiarity with NASA, ASME, ASTM, IEC, or AS/NZS standards
• Working knowledge of Siemens NX/Teamcenter
• Experience with project management software (e.g., Jira, Confluence)
• Experience with structural analysis, including hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
• Experience with Process and Instrumentation Diagrams and wiring diagrams
• Demonstrated leadership competencies

We offer a dynamic, fast-paced environment where innovation and ambition are encouraged. You’ll work with some of the brightest minds in the industry, contribute to world-first missions, and help shape the future of space.

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]. This 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.

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.