Lead, Test Operations Technician

Rocket Lab USA; Mississippi; On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi seeks a Lead Test Operations Technician to guide a qualified crew in building, operating, and maintaining test assets for the Neutron program. You will set daily assignments to meet workflow demands and drive hour-by-hour progress.

This hands-on leadership role requires strong safety discipline and the ability to train and retain a high-performing team while pushing performance improvements in a fast-paced space manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• 6+ years of experience as an operating technician in test facilities, industrial plants, or technical environments.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow manufacturing instructions and drawings.
• Knowledge of safety processes and handling hazardous goods and materials.
• Experience with capacity planning and scheduling to meet forecasted test rates.
• Experience applying 5S and lean processes to daily tasks.
• Proficiency with computers, MS Office, shop floor management software (ERP/MES).

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of test operations technicians to ensure clarity and accountability of responsibilities at the Stennis site.
• Coordinate daily and weekly site activities with test ops, GSE, and the electrical team, including the electrical supervisor.
• Track output of the team against delivery objectives as well as manage capacity planning and schedule of the team.
• Drive and encourage improvement projects and work instruction feedback that decrease touch-time, improve quality, or reduce safety risk.
• Drive basic preventive maintenance across the facility.
• Accountable for the team training and conformance to health and safety policies and procedures, including use of proper PPE.

Skills

Reading manufacturing instructions

Computer literacy (MS Office, ERP/MES)

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate's or Bachelor's in a technical discipline

A&P License

Tools

ERP/MES systems

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.

NEUTRON

Neutron is a medium lift launch vehicle capable of delivering the mega constellations of tomorrow, high assurance payloads, and human spaceflight. As a highly reusable launch platform, Neutron will deliver a highly cost-effective and reliable launch solution leveraging Rocket Lab's proven execution history with the Electron program. If you're interested in joining a high performing team, pushing the boundaries with a clean sheet development of a re-usable liquid launch vehicle, this is your opportunity!

LEAD TEST OPERATIONS TECHNICIAN - C SHIFT and D Shift

• C Shift: Thursday - Sunday, 5:00am - 3:30pm
• D shift: Thursday - Sunday, 3:00pm - 1:30am

Based out of Rocket Lab's Stennis Test Center at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, the Lead Test Operations Technician is responsible for leading the efforts of the test operations technician crew to build, operate and maintain various test assets onsite required for the success of the Neutron program. This will be a highly influential position with daily responsibility for setting job assignments to meet workflow demands and to drive day by day and hour by hour progress.

The Lead Technician will build, train, manage and retain a team of technicians responsible for building, maintaining and operating the test infrastructure required for the success of the Neutron program. In this role you must be an inspiring leader and set standards for the team but also be ready to work with your hands in the field.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Lead a team of highly qualified test operations technicians to ensure clarity and accountability of responsibilities at our Stennis test site
• Coordinate daily and weekly site activities with test ops, GSE, and the larger electrical team, including the electrical supervisor.
• Track output of the team against delivery objectives as well as manage capacity planning and schedule of the team
• Drive and encourage improvement projects and work instruction feedback that decrease touch-time, improve quality, or reduce safety risk
• Drive basic preventive maintenance across the facility
• Accountable for the team training and conformance to health and safety policies and procedures, including use of proper PPE

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or GED
• 6+ years of experience as an operating technician in test facilities, industrial plants, or other technical environments

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Associate's degree or bachelor's degree in a technical discipline
• A&P License
• Experience preferred in fast-paced production environment working in a similar type of test facility
• Ability to read, understand, and follow manufacturing instructions and drawings.
• Knowledge of safety processes and experience with handling hazardous goods and materials
• Proven ability to align capacity to development and production forecasts
• Proven ability to manage resources to meet expected test rate increases
• Experience with applying 5S and other lean processes to streamline daily tasks
• Proficient with computers, the ability to use MS Office, shop floor management software (ERP/MES) and related programs

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.

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.