Senior Facilities Engineer — Space Systems Ops

Rocket Lab USA; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in Albuquerque, NM is seeking a Senior Facilities Engineer I to support SolAero facilities with maintenance, operations, and upgrades. You will ensure high equipment availability and lead safety-compliant projects in a regulated aerospace environment.

You will translate requirements into facility specifications, justify capital upgrades, and collaborate across operations and subcontractors to maintain top-notch facilities while applying Lean principles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace) with 5+ years of manufacturing or facilities engineering experience, or 9+ years of experience in lieu of a degree.
• Experience with heavy equipment, large-scale lifting operations, and structural assembly.
• Experience in aerospace, automotive, medical device, or similar heavily regulated manufacturing environments (e.g. cleanroom).
• Demonstrated achievements in planning, directing, and implementing complex projects on time, within budget and with desired functionality.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement plans to manage all building systems including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, safety, and waste management.
• Translate manufacturing, processes, and testing requirements into facilities specifications (electrical, network, HVAC, fluids, and other critical systems).
• Plan and support capital projects for facility upgrades, equipment installations, and layout improvements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure facilities equipment meets safety and operational standards.
• Develop maintenance policies and procedures to ensure optimal building operation.
• Ensure maintenance work follows safety standards and stays within budget.
• Apply Lean principles to facilities design and production system development.
• Support equipment selection, FAT/SAT, and production commissioning.
• Support EHS to ensure compliance with OSHA and environmental regulations.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues, implement corrective actions, and perform preventive maintenance.

Skills

Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering

HVAC systems

Pneumatics & Controls

Heavy equipment handling

Project management

Lean manufacturing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace)

9+ years of experience in manufacturing or facilities engineering environments

Tools

Facility management practices

Job description

Rocket Lab USA in Albuquerque, NM is seeking a Senior Facilities Engineer I to support SolAero facilities with maintenance, operations, and upgrades. You will ensure high equipment availability and lead safety-compliant projects in a regulated aerospace environment.

You will translate requirements into facility specifications, justify capital upgrades, and collaborate across operations and subcontractors to maintain top-notch facilities while applying Lean principles.