Composites Engineer II/Senior

Rocket Lab Corp.; Albuquerque, Northern (NM, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is seeking a Composites Engineer II or Senior Composites Engineer I to join its Space Systems team. You will work on spacecraft composite production lines and support build of composite structures for missions.

Responsibilities include leading non-conformance investigations, applying lean manufacturing, and advising on design improvements for components, tooling, and procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing, Industrial or Aerospace Engineering.
• 2+ years hands-on experience within a Composites manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of composite materials, manufacturing processes, testing techniques, and design techniques, including prepreg layup, machining, and structural assembly bonding.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of Spacecraft composite production lines.
• Support build of Spacecraft composite structures in a hands-on capacity.
• Practice continuous improvement and lean manufacturing techniques.
• Understand technical and program risks.
• Lead non-conformance and root cause analysis investigations.
• Create technical documentation.
• Advise on design improvements for components, subsystems, procedures, equipment and tooling.

Skills

Composites manufacturing

Prepreg layup

Structural bonding

Lean manufacturing

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing, Industrial or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Siemens Teamcenter

Infor LN

Job description

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.

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions

COMPOSITES ENGINEER II/SENIOR

Based at Rocket Lab's site in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Composites Engineers facilitate and optimize production of solar products and sub-systems for a high-growth, high-consequence production environment, ensuring best-practice manufacturing principles are employed to meet stringent deadlines. Join a driven team of pioneers relentlessly tackling challenging projects, delivering on the impossible, and making an impact on the future of space!

(Please note: This position can be hired at the Composites Engineer II or Senior Composites Engineer I level.)

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Work on ground-breaking products and processes. Introduce innovate manufacturing equipment and processes to the Production floor. Touch a satellite going to space!
• Take ownership of Spacecraft composite production lines
• Supporting build of Spacecraft composite structures in a hands‑on capacity
• Practicing continuous improvement and lean manufacturing techniques
• Understanding technical and program risks
• Leading non-conformance and root cause analysis investigations
• Creating technical documentation
• Advising on design improvements for components, subsystems, procedures, equipment and tooling
• Work within a rapidly growing Space Systems team
• Work with highly motivated, enthusiastic professionals in a fun and supportive environment. Opportunity for growth
• If you bring experience within a regulated manufacturing industry, this would be advantageous

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS A COMPOSITES ENGINEER II:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing, Industrial or Aerospace Engineering
• 2+ years of hands‑on experience within a Composites manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of composite materials, manufacturing processes, testing techniques, and design techniques, including prepreg layup, machining, and structural assembly bonding

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS A SENIOR COMPOSITES ENGINEER I:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing, Industrial or Aerospace Engineering
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience within a Composites manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of composite materials, manufacturing processes, testing techniques, and design techniques, including prepreg layup, machining, and structural assembly bonding

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Can-do approach and flexibility to thrive around growing teams and processes
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Proven risk assessment and risk-based decision-making skills
• Working experience with destructive and non‑destructive testing of composite materials and subassemblies.
• Proven ability to deliver KPI’s (with little to no supervision) on schedule, as an individual or as a member of an integrated team
• Working experience with environmental acceptance/production acceptance testing, such as vibration, shock, thermal and vacuum
• Knowledge of composite related material properties including resin systems, structural bonding adhesives, and sandwich structures.
• Experience with composite structure repair techniques and processes
• Experience in manufacturing and assembly of composite structures into larger assemblies.
• Knowledge of production quality metrics
• Experience with ERP/PLM Systems - Siemens Team Center/Infor LN
• Experience in configuration control and configuration management in production systems
• Demonstrated experience with DFMEA, PFMEA methodologies, Fault Tree Analysis, Pareto analysis, root cause and corrective actions
• Proven ability to deliver new product implementation activities on time and to budget
• Familiar with engineering change processes and implementation in production environments
• Understanding of process qualification theory

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

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.

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.