Senior Quality Technician — Space Systems Materials QA

rocketlab; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Albuquerque, NM seeks a Senior Quality Technician to support QA for all materials and components, ensuring compliance with specifications before release to production.

You will perform inspections, verify CoCs/CoAs, conduct FAI, and maintain traceability across records, while collaborating with manufacturing, engineering, and quality teams to prevent nonconforming material from entering production.

Qualifications

• High school diploma.
• 8+ years of manufacturing or quality-related experience.
• Experience with quality assurance processes.
• Familiarity with ISO-9001 and/or QS-9000, metrology equipment, and GD&T.
• Exposure to design and manufacturing environments and implementation of protocol.
• Detail-oriented and able to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos; write simple correspondence.
• Proficiency in basic math and computer skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform receiving inspection of semiconductor materials and components using approved procedures and sampling plans (e.g., ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, c=0).
• Inspect materials such as Germanium and GaAs substrate wafers, coverglass, adhesives, interconnects, aerospace electrical components, and precious metals.
• Conduct laboratory measurements and inspections, including surface defect, particle, and contamination inspection (optical microscopy, high-intensity light inspection), and dimensional inspection (calipers, micrometers, height gauges, optical comparators, vision systems).
• Verify supplier Certificates of Conformance (CoC) and Certificates of Analysis (CoA) against purchase order requirements, material specifications, and drawings, including lot traceability, shelf-life, and expiration dates.
• Perform First Article Inspection (FAI) on new or changed purchased parts, as required (AS9102 format).
• Conduct visual and packaging inspections to verify proper labeling, handling, ESD protection, and contamination-free packaging.
• Disposition incoming lots (accept, reject, or quarantine) and update material status in the ERP/MES system.
• Identify, tag, and segregate nonconforming material. Initiate Nonconformance Reports (NCRs) and support Material Review Board (MRB) activities.
• Support counterfeit and suspect material prevention per company procedures.
• Record inspection and test results accurately in quality databases and maintain inspection records for full lot traceability.
• Assist in writing and revising inspection instructions, test methods, and sampling plans.
• Deploy the Quality Management System as it applies to scope of work.
• Exercise authority to implement protocols, reject or quarantine material, recommend improvements, and stop processes that threaten employee wellbeing or when a nonconformance is found

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Rocket Lab in Albuquerque, NM seeks a Senior Quality Technician to support QA for all materials and components, ensuring compliance with specifications before release to production.

You will perform inspections, verify CoCs/CoAs, conduct FAI, and maintain traceability across records, while collaborating with manufacturing, engineering, and quality teams to prevent nonconforming material from entering production.