Senior Manufacturing Engineer II - Avionics & Test

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 233,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab Corporation is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer II focused on avionics and test. You will debug electro-mechanical and avionics systems, optimize processes, and support manufacturability across production lines.

The role requires strong hands-on experience, cross-functional collaboration, and a drive to improve quality and efficiency in a fast-paced environment. Based in the United States, it involves working closely with production and design teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or similar
• 8+ years of technical experience in a Manufacturing, Production, or Process Engineering environment
• Hands-on experience solving problems in complex manufacturing systems
• Ability to effectively deliver on complex assignments with autonomy
• Foundational knowledge in complex manufacturing processes
• Hands-on technical experience debugging electro-mechanical systems

Responsibilities

• Testing and debugging of electro-mechanical and avionics systems; optimize manufacturing processes
• Support product design for manufacturability and troubleshoot production issues
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive process improvements
• Lead hands-on problem solving to improve build rate and quality

Skills

Electro-mechanical systems

Debugging experience

Autonomy

Manufacturing processes

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Computer Engineering or similar

Job description

Senior Manufacturing Engineer II - Avionics & Test

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.

MANUFACTURING

Manufacturing Engineering powers Rocket Lab’s factories from concept to full-scale production. We turn early ideas into manufacturable designs, build and optimize the systems that make them real, and constantly push for faster, better, smarter ways to build. We engineer the factories that build the rockets, boosting quality, cutting cost, and accelerating build rate.

SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER II - AVIONICS & TEST

This role centers on testing and avionics, involving hands-on debugging of electro-mechanical and avionics systems, optimizing manufacturing processes, and supporting product design for manufacturability. It also includes troubleshooting production issues, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving process improvements.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or similar


• 8 + years of technical experience in a Manufacturing, Production, or Process Engineering environment


• Hands-on experience solving problems in complex manufacturing systems


• Ability to effectively deliver on complex assignments with autonomy


• Foundational knowledge in complex manufacturing processes


• Hands-on technical experience debugging electro-mechanical systems

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

• Working experience with environmental acceptance/production acceptance testing, such as vibration, shock, thermal, and vacuum


• Understanding of instrumentation, interfaces, and sensors including power supplies, oscilloscopes, serial devices, switch topologies, accelerometers, thermocouples, RTDs, and 4-20mA sensors


• Experience with designing, implementing, and supporting a production line and/or build area


• Experience transitioning products from design to production as a part of cross-functional team in a fast-paced, iterative design environment


• Demonstrated experience with DFMEA, PFMEA methodologies, Fault Tree Analysis, Pareto analysis, rootcauseand corrective action

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.

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)

$164,500 — $233,275 USD

$132,000 — $176,000 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.

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.