Senior Equipment Engineer I - Facilities

Socket.dev; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Equipment Engineer I - Facilities based in Albuquerque, NM. You will support facilities maintenance, operations, and improvement projects for our SolAero facilities, ensuring high availability of critical systems and compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

Responsibilities include managing building systems, translating processes into facility specs, planning capital projects, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering and 5+ years in manufacturing or facilities engineering (HVAC, pneumatics, controls, steam).
• 9+ years of experience in manufacturing or facilities engineering in lieu of a degree.
• Experience in regulated environments (aerospace/medical device) and with heavy equipment.
• Proven ability to plan, direct, and complete complex projects on time and within budget.
• Experience with heavy equipment, large-scale lifting, and structural assembly.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute plans to manage building systems (mechanical, electrical, HVAC, safety, waste).
• Translate processes into facilities specifications including electrical and network infrastructure.
• Plan and support capital projects for upgrades and installations.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and subcontractors to meet safety and operational standards.
• Develop maintenance policies to ensure optimal building performance.
• Ensure work follows safety standards and stays within budget.
• Apply Lean principles to facilities design and production systems.
• Support equipment selection, FAT, SAT, and production commissioning.
• Support EHS to ensure OSHA compliance.
• Troubleshoot, implement corrective actions, and perform preventive maintenance.
• Monitor equipment performance and implement efficiency upgrades.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Industrial engineering

Manufacturing engineering

Lean manufacturing

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree (nice to have)

Job description

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

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

SENIOR EQUIPMENT ENGINEER I - FACILITIES

As a Senior Equipment Engineer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is responsible to support facilities maintenance, operations, and improvement projects for our SolAero facilities. It also encompasses equipment maintenance and preventative maintenance responsibilities. You will be supporting internal leadership to ensure all facility equipment is up to current standards and can support SolAero's production facility with the highest availability possible.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Develop and execute plan to manage all building systems including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, safety, and waste management.
• Translate manufacturing, processes, and testing requirements into facilities specifications, including electrical, network infrastructure, HVAC, fluids (air, nitrogen, vacuum, water), and other critical systems.
• Plan, justify, and support execution of capital projects for facility upgrades, equipment installations, and layout improvements.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including operations, maintenance, and subcontractors to ensure facilities equipment meets safety and operational standards.
• Develop maintenance policy and procedures that ensure the optimal functioning of buildings, grounds, and associated equipment.
• Ensure facilities maintenance work follows safety standards, conforms to specifications, and that work orders are tracked and completed within the budgeted guidelines
• Apply Lean principles to facilities design and production system development, ensuring efficient use of resources.
• Support equipment selection, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and production commissioning.
• Support EHS to ensure facility is compliant with OSHA, environmental regulations.
• Troubleshooting and resolving technical issues, implementing corrective actions, and performing preventive maintenance.
• Monitoring equipment performance, conducting evaluations, and implementing upgrades to optimize efficiency.

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (preferably Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace) AND 5+ years of experience in manufacturing or facilities engineering environments (specifically HVAC, pneumatics, controls and steam) OR
• 9+ years of experience in manufacturing or facilities engineering environments (specifically HVAC, pneumatics, controls and steam) in lieu of a degree.
• Facilities and equipment maintenance experience in an Aerospace, Automotive, Medical Device, or similar heavily regulated manufacturing environment (i.e. cleanroom)
• Demonstrated achievements in planning, directing, and implementing complex projects on time, within budget and with desired functionality.
• Experience with heavy equipment, large-scale lifting operations, and structural assembly.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Masters Engineering degree (preferably Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace)
• Occupational health & safety skills to include risk assessment, policy, training, project management, hazardous substances, and safety in manufacturing engineering
• Knowledge and practical experience in emergency management and / or occupational health and workplace hygiene
• Experience in the application of Lean Manufacturing tools and methodologies.
• Ability to be broadly focused, while paying attention to detail and concurrently managing multiple efforts
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization, including staff, business stakeholders, and all levels of management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including those necessary for an executive audience.
• Strong conflict resolution, negotiation, and influential skills
• Ability to work in fast-paced, changing, and ambiguous environments.
• Proven experience in project management
• Highly organized and detail oriented

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.