Senior Facilities Engineer – Space Systems & Upgrades

Rocket Lab; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Albuquerque, NM seeks a Senior Facilities Engineer I to lead maintenance, operations, and improvement projects for SolAero facilities. You will manage building systems, translate requirements into specs, and justify capital upgrades while ensuring safety, reliability, and high availability of production assets.

The role focuses on implementing Lean practices, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and delivering compliant, efficient facilities to support mission-critical space

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

HVAC

Pneumatics

Controls

Steam systems

Manufacturing environment

Education

Bachelors in Engineering (Industrial/Manufacturing/Mechanical/Electrical/Aerospace)

Masters degree (preferred)

Job description

Rocket Lab in Albuquerque, NM seeks a Senior Facilities Engineer I to lead maintenance, operations, and improvement projects for SolAero facilities. You will manage building systems, translate requirements into specs, and justify capital upgrades while ensuring safety, reliability, and high availability of production assets.

The role focuses on implementing Lean practices, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and delivering compliant, efficient facilities to support mission-critical space