Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Robotics & Space Hardware

Rocket Lab; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidized EV charging

Onsite fitness centers

Employee merch discounts

Job summary

Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer I to lead development and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes for robotics and electromechanical hardware. You will create and own work instructions, travelers, and test procedures, interfacing with design, production, quality, and supply chain to translate designs into scalable, repeatable manufacturing workflows.

The role emphasizes hands‑on problem solving, rapid iteration, and building processes that

Qualifications

• BS degree in industrial, mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing, robotics or related field.
• 5+ years in hardware development, testing, or production support in high‑reliability environments.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, blueprints, schematics, and wiring diagrams.
• Familiar with GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and inspection methods.
• Proficient in 3D CAD modeling and drawing production (SolidWorks preferred).
• Experience creating manufacturing processes, work instructions, tooling, fixtures, or test procedures.
• Strong cross‑functional interfacing with mechanical, electrical, controls, software, quality, and supply chain teams.

Responsibilities

• Plan, build, integrate, and test robotics systems and production hardware.
• Review docs for flight/production manufacturability and cost optimization.
• Develop manufacturing plans, build strategies, and tooling concepts.
• Create production tooling, fixtures, and test setups to improve safety and throughput.
• Develop build methods to increase throughput and reduce errors.
• Support integration and day‑to‑day production activities across teams.

Skills

Reading & interpreting drawings

3D CAD modeling

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor of Science in industrial/mechanical/aerospace/manufacturing robotics

Tools

SolidWorks

CAM software

CNC equipment

Job description

Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer I to lead development and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes for robotics and electromechanical hardware. You will create and own work instructions, travelers, and test procedures, interfacing with design, production, quality, and supply chain to translate designs into scalable, repeatable manufacturing workflows.

The role emphasizes hands‑on problem solving, rapid iteration, and building processes that