Manufacturing Engineer I - Avionics and Test

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)

401(k) with company match

Top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO) and/

HDHP with significant HSA companycon"

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays

Flexible spending and dependent care

Paid parental leave

Disability and life insurance

Subsidized EV charging

Onsite fitness centers

Discounted gym memberships

Complimentary snacks and beverages

50% discount on company merch

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer I focusing on avionics and test in our California facilities. You will test, debug, and optimize manufacturing processes for electro-mechanical systems while supporting design for manufacturability and cross-functional collaboration.

You will contribute to reducing cycle times, improving quality, and enabling scale-up as Rocket Lab expands its launch capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or similar.
• Technical experience in a Manufacturing, Production, or Process Engineering environment.
• Hands-on experience solving problems in complex manufacturing systems.
• Ability to effectively deliver on complex assignments with autonomy.
• Foundational knowledge in complex manufacturing processes.
• Hands-on technical experience debugging electro-mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

• Testing and avionics focus within manufacturing.
• Troubleshooting production issues and optimizing processes.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve manufacturability.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Problem solving

Autonomy

Complex processes

Electro-mechanical debugging

Education

Engineering degree (EE/ME/Mechatronics/CE)

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.

MANUFACTURING

Manufacturing Engineering powers Rocket Lab's factories from concept to fullscale production. We turn early ideas into manufacturable designs, build and optimize the systems that make them real, and constantly push for faster, better, smarter ways to build. We engineer the factories that build the rockets, boosting quality, cutting cost, and accelerating build rate.

MANUFACTURING ENGINEER I - AVIONICS & TEST

his role centers on testing and avionics, involving hands-on debugging of electro-mechanical and avionics systems, optimizing manufacturing processes, and supporting product design for manufacturability. It also includes troubleshooting production issues, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving process improvements.

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or similar

• Technicalexperience in a Manufacturing, Production, or Process Engineering environment

• Hands-on experience solving problems in complex manufacturing systems

• Ability to effectivelydeliver oncomplex assignmentswith autonomy

• Foundational knowledge in complex manufacturing processes

• Hands-on technical experience debugging electro-mechanical systems

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

• Working experience with environmental acceptance/production acceptance testing, such as vibration, shock, thermal, and vacuum

• Understanding of instrumentation, interfaces, and sensors including power supplies, oscilloscopes, serial devices, switch topologies, accelerometers, thermocouples, RTDs, and 4-20mA sensors

• Experience with designing, implementing, and supporting a production line and/or build area

• Experience transitioning products from design to production as a part of cross-functional team in a fast-paced, iterative design environment

• Demonstrated experience with DFMEA, PFMEA methodologies, Fault Tree Analysis, Pareto analysis, rootcauseand corrective action

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.

Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base Pay Range (CA Only)

$90,000 — $104,000 USD

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]. 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.