Senior Electrical Supplier Development Engineer

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 102,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity / stock-based compensation

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Top-tier medical plans

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Subsidized EV charging

Onsite fitness centers

Merchandise discounts

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Supplier Development Engineer I/II - Electrical to own the supplier base and drive end-to-end industrialization of electrical hardware, including PCBAs, wire harnesses, and connectors.

The role collaborates with procurement and engineering, leads DFM reviews, APQP/PPAP processes, and ensures on‑time, on‑cost production with robust quality and supplier performance improvements.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in a regulated industry (Aerospace, Medical, Automotive, Industrial).
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Manufacturing Engineering.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, and Cpk/Ppk.
• Experience conducting DFM reviews and translating design intent into manufacturing and quality requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, and PCB layouts.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end supplier industrialization for electrical hardware from source selection through rate production ramp.
• Partner with procurement and engineering to evaluate suppliers based on process capability and capacity.
• Conduct supplier capability assessments and ensure tooling maturity and process controls.
• Lead DFM reviews with design engineering to optimize PCB layout and component selection.
• Own APQP/PPAP activities and ensure compliance and robust quality planning.
• Drive PPAP production readiness and demonstrate process capability at suppliers.
• Lead FAI activities and close findings within project timelines.
• Identify gaps and drive supplier improvement plans for quality, cost, delivery, and capacity.
• Lead RCCA for supplier quality issues using 8D / 5-Why methods.
• Apply lean/ SPC tools to reduce defects and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Supplier industrialization

DFM reviews

Engineering drawings interpretation

RCCA / 8D / 5-Why problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

APQP

PPAP

PFMEA

Control plans

MSA

Cpk/Ppk

Job description

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Supplier Development Engineer I/II - Electrical to own the supplier base and drive end-to-end industrialization of electrical hardware, including PCBAs, wire harnesses, and connectors.

The role collaborates with procurement and engineering, leads DFM reviews, APQP/PPAP processes, and ensures on‑time, on‑cost production with robust quality and supplier performance improvements.