Senior Mechanical Quality Inspector for Space Manufacturing

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 37,195 - 46,838; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) match

Equity

Paid time off

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Quality Inspector III – Mechanical to perform high‑level inspections and ensure parts meet engineering and production standards. The role supports root cause mitigation and requires meticulous attention to detail to prevent faulty hardware from advancing in the manufacturing process.

Based at Rocket Lab's Long Beach headquarters, you will work with the Quality Manager and Production teams, documenting outcomes and driving continuous improvement

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a quality assurance role in a quality mechanical manufacturing environment.
• Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• High school diploma or GED.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex mechanical inspections for purchased parts, 3D-printed components, CNC-machined items, electro‑mechanical components, and propulsion assemblies.
• Perform all types of precision inspections, including receiving, in-process and final assembly inspections with hand tools and CMM.
• Document non-conformance in Rocket Lab systems and ERP/MES systems.
• Collaborate with engineering and management to improve work instructions and identify critical inspection points.
• Coordinate with Production to prioritize workload and meet delivery milestones.
• Maintain Built-In-Quality by preventing defects and stopping non-conforming parts.

Skills

Quality assurance

GD&T

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

CMM

ROMER Arm

Keyence Vision System

PC-DMIS

Job description

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Quality Inspector III – Mechanical to perform high‑level inspections and ensure parts meet engineering and production standards. The role supports root cause mitigation and requires meticulous attention to detail to prevent faulty hardware from advancing in the manufacturing process.

Based at Rocket Lab's Long Beach headquarters, you will work with the Quality Manager and Production teams, documenting outcomes and driving continuous improvement