Senior Robotics Manufacturing Engineer, Space Systems

Rocket Lab USA; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Stock discount 15%

Top-tier medical plans

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and holidays

Discounted merch store

Job summary

Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer I to develop, implement, and continuously improve manufacturing technologies, processes, and documentation for robotics hardware.

You will work closely with design engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and technicians to translate designs into efficient, repeatable manufacturing processes, build instructions, and tooling, ensuring traceability and quality throughout production.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience building, testing, or supporting hardware in high-reliability manufacturing environments.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, schematics, and wiring diagrams.
• Proficiency with ASME Y14.5 GD&T and inspection methods.
• Experience with 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and working with assemblies or integrated hardware.
• Experience developing manufacturing processes, tooling, fixtures, or test procedures.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration across mechanical, electrical, controls, software, quality, production, and supply chain functions.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute the build, integration, and test of robotics systems, electromechanical assemblies, tooling, fixtures, and related production hardware.
• Review fabrication and assembly documentation for flight and production hardware, providing manufacturability feedback to improve build efficiency, reduce risk, and optimize cost without compromising quality or performance.
• Develop concepts of operations, manufacturing plans, and build strategies for robotic mechanisms, automation equipment, and integrated modules.
• Design, develop, and drive build of production tooling, fixtures, handling equipment, and test setups that improve safety, quality, throughput, and repeatability.
• Develop build methods to increase throughput, reduce opportunities for error, simplify technician workflows, and improve manufacturability.
• Support robotics integration and production teams in developing and enabling day‑to‑day execution of assembly, inspection, repair/retrofit, integration, and system test procedures.
• Collect, document, and communicate lessons learned from builds to design engineering, manufacturing, quality, and production teams.
• Develop and maintain clear work instructions, travelers, test procedures, and visual aids to ensure effective communication between engineering and technicians.
• Oversee the creation, maintenance, and accuracy of production travelers and manufacturing documentation to ensure traceability, quality compliance, and efficient execution of manufacturing processes.
• Contribute to, develop, and own build procedures; document non‑conformances and translate findings into actionable process improvements.
• Maintain integrated planning and build documents that reflect current hardware configurations, work scope, priorities, and production readiness.
• Design and develop tools and hardware to enable robotics processing, assembly, checkout, and required testing capabilities.
• Support development, buildout, and continuous improvement of robotics production areas, labs, and manufacturing processes.
• Closely collaborate with management, peers from other departments, and highly skilled technicians on daily production and development activities.
• Manage and track multiple priorities while maintaining focus on common project goals, schedule, quality, and safety.
• Identify and mitigate risks tied to shortages, late drawing release, process planning gaps, and supply constraints

Skills

Aerospace hardware experience

Reading drawings

GD&T (ASME Y14.5)

3D CAD (SolidWorks)

Manufacturing processes

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

BS in engineering (industrial/mechanical/aerospace/manufacturing/robotics)

Tools

CAM/CNC

JIRA

MRP/ERP systems

Job description

Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer I to develop, implement, and continuously improve manufacturing technologies, processes, and documentation for robotics hardware.

You will work closely with design engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and technicians to translate designs into efficient, repeatable manufacturing processes, build instructions, and tooling, ensuring traceability and quality throughout production.