Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - TPA

Rocket Lab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity (stock)

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Top-tier medical plans

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick time

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Rocket Lab's Senior Manufacturing Engineer I – Turbopump Assembly is based in Long Beach, CA, focusing on turbopump assembly for Archimedes engines. You will mentor engineers, drive manufacturability, and oversee production tooling, process development, and continuous improvement initiatives within a high-velocity aerospace environment.

The role requires a mechanical/aerospace/manufacturing background, 5+ years in heavy manufacturing, and strong knowledge of fluid/structural mechanics, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing engineering, or similar engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in a heavy development manufacturing environment.
• Understanding of fluid and structural mechanics fundamentals.
• Knowledge in manufacturing processes for aerospace materials.
• Advanced engineering degree (nice to have).
• Experience with turbopumps or turbomachinery (nice to have).
• Experience contributing to and steering design reviews and provide technical expertise in support of design for manufacture, test, and assembly.
• GD&T and inspection methods familiarity.
• Lean/Six Sigma and value stream mapping experience.
• Experience with capacity modeling and process mapping.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and coach people within the team on technical and professional development.
• Define and maintain standard of excellence through documentation, training, coaching, and review of others’ work.
• Contribute to engineering process development and documentation at Rocket Lab.
• Contribute to design reviews with emphasis on design for manufacture and machining.
• Design, develop, and implement tooling and equipment for production environments to improve quality, delivery, or cost.
• Lead continuous improvement and cost reduction projects.
• Collaborate with propulsion assembly technicians for alignment and support.
• Perform Value Stream Mapping exercises and cell design activities.
• Implement factory layouts, equipment selections, FAT/SAT, and production commissioning.
• Develop production processes with documented testing procedures and safety requirements.
• Interface with quality team to resolve manufacturing engineering quality responsibilities and lead root cause investigations.
• Lead lean initiatives (5S) in your area.

Skills

Fluid mechanics

Structural mechanics

Manufacturing processes (aerospace)

Lean/Six Sigma

Value stream mapping

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing engineering, or similar

Tools

3D CAD software

Job description

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

ENGINEERING
Engineering is at the heart of Rocket Lab. Our engineering team has a proven track record of designing and developing world-class rockets and spacecraft that are changing the way we access and use space. You’ll work alongside driven, talented engineers from varied backgrounds and experience levels, all committed to the same mission. Our engineering team members span design, analysis, prototyping, testing, manufacturing, assembly and integration, quality control, engineering documentation, and more.

SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER I - TURBOPUMP ASSEMBLY

Based out of Rocket Lab's Headquarters for Long Beach, CA the Senior Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for the development of new products and product revisions as related to both Rutherford and Archimedes engines. This role will have primary responsibility over the turbopump assembly for the Archimedes engine. You will support the Director of Manufacturing Engineering and Production organization, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

Mentor and coach people within the team on technical and professionaldevelopment

Define and maintainstandardofexcellencefortheirteam through documentation, training, coaching, and review of others’ work

Contribute to engineering process developmentanddocumentationat Rocket Lab related to areas of experience

Contribute to design reviews acting as an expert in design for manufacture, design for machining, productivity, quality control, etc.

Design, develop, and implement tooling and equipment for use in a production environment where appropriate to improve quality, delivery and/or cost performance

Responsible for continuous improvement and cost reduction projects

Collaborate with propulsion assembly technicians for general alignment, capability, and support

Perform initial Value Stream Mapping Exercises, Method of Manufacture plans, cell design, etc.

Implement Factory layouts, Equipment selection, FAT, SAT, and production commissioning

Develop production processes and ensure they are accurately and clearly documented, including testing procedures, health and safety requirements and supervisor signoffs

Interface with the quality team to resolve manufacturing engineering quality responsibilities, and when required, lead problem containment and structured root cause & corrective action investigations

Lead the continuous improvement process in your area using lean tools and techniques such as 5S

QUALIFICATIONS YOU’LL BRING:

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing engineering, or similar engineering discipline

5+ years of experience in a heavy development manufacturing environment

Understanding of fluid and structural mechanics fundamentals

Knowledge in manufacturing processes for aerospace materials

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

Advanced engineering degree

Experience with design, testing and development of turbopumps or similar turbomachinery

Experience contributing to and steering design reviews and provide technical expertise in support of design for manufacture, test, and assembly

Well versed in GD&T and inspection methods

Working experience with capacity modeling, process mapping, Lean/Six Sigma and value stream mapping

Experience with 3D CAD software and tooling design

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
Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.

Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package , giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Total Compensation (base and equity)
$164,000 — $194,000 USD

Base Salary
$115,000 — $158,000 USD

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]. This 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.