Senior Supplier Development Engineer I/II – Mechanical
Rocket Lab
Stand out for this role — generate a tailored resume and cover letter in about a minute.
Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Supplier Development Engineer I/II – Mechanical to own the supplier base for mechanical hardware. You will lead industrialization, DFMs, PPAPs, and APQP across multiple manufacturing processes while coordinating with procurement, design, and quality teams.
The role requires 5+ years in regulated industries, a related engineering degree, and strong knowledge of APQP/PPAP, PFMEA, MSA, and GD&T.
Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in a regulated industry (Aerospace, Medical, Automotive, Industrial, or similar).
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
- Experience with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, and statistical process capability (Cpk/Ppk).
- Experience conducting DFM reviews and translating design intent into manufacturing and quality requirements.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), and 3D CAD models.
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end supplier industrialization for mechanical hardware from source selection through NPI, PPAP, and rate production ramp.
- Partner with procurement and engineering to identify, evaluate, and select suppliers based on process capability, quality systems, and capacity across CNC machining, EDM, grinding, additive manufacturing, welding and electro-mechanical assemblies.
- Conduct supplier capability assessments during qualification phases, evaluating tooling maturity, measurement systems, process controls, and workforce qualification against program requirements.
- Lead Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews with design engineering at the earliest program stage, providing actionable feedback on feature complexity, datum schemes, tolerance stack-ups, and design characteristics that drive cost or quality risk.
- Own the APQP process at suppliers, driving completion of all quality planning deliverables — process flow, PFMEA, control plan, MSA/GR&R, and dimensional results — on schedule and to the required standard.
- Drive the PPAP program as a production readiness gate; define required submission levels, disposition supplier packages, and ensure process capability (Cpk) is demonstrated on critical and significant characteristics to enable at rate production.
- Lead First Article Inspection (FAI) activities at suppliers and in coordination with internal quality teams; ensure all findings are resolved to closure within project timelines.
- Identify systemic performance gaps; own supplier improvement plans and drive measurable progress against quality, cost, delivery, and capacity targets.
- Lead root cause and corrective action (RCCA) for supplier quality issues and escapes, applying structured problem-solving methods (8D, 5-Why) and validating that corrective actions are robust and sustained across all applicable parts and production lines.
- Apply lean manufacturing and statistical quality tools — including SPC, Cpk trending, and process audits — to drive continuous improvement across the mechanical supply base and eliminate sources of recurring defect.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
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.
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.
Rocket Lab’s Supply Chain team is responsible for the flow of all materials, products, and components through the business. With many of our own products functioning as critical components to our own and our customers’ missions, the Supply Chain team has a direct impact on the success of our rocket and satellite programs. They set up the assembly kits that enables our technicians to put together our Electron rockets, manage inventory, look after shipping and receiving, manage direct and indirect procurement, and inspect and ensure that all of our materials and products are compliant and up to standard. They are the chain that links our teams together, and are critical to our success.
Based out of Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA the Senior Supplier Development Engineer I/II – Mechanical is the primary technical owner of the supply base for a broad portfolio of mechanical hardware. This role is responsible for leading the end-to-end industrialization of suppliers from source selection and process qualification through NPI, PPAP, and production ramp thereby ensuring that every supplier can deliver conforming hardware at rate, on cost, and on schedule.
This is a hands-on, supplier-facing role requiring deep commodity knowledge across mechanical domains including but not limited to Complex Machined Parts, Electro-Mechanical Assemblies, Structural Composites, 3D printing and raw materials. The SDE operates proactively at the intersection of design, manufacturing, procurement, and quality. They are the ultimate internal advocate for supply chain manufacturability and capability.
- Lead end-to-end supplier industrialization for mechanical hardware from source selection and process qualification through NPI, PPAP, and rate production ramp.
- Partner with procurement and engineering to identify, evaluate, and select suppliers based on process capability, quality systems, and capacity across CNC machining, EDM, grinding, additive manufacturing, welding and electro-mechanical assemblies.
- Conduct supplier capability assessments during qualification phases, evaluating tooling maturity, measurement systems, process controls, and workforce qualification against program requirements.
- Lead Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews with design engineering at the earliest program stage, providing actionable feedback on feature complexity, datum schemes, tolerance stack-ups, and design characteristics that drive cost or quality risk.
- Own the APQP process at suppliers, driving completion of all quality planning deliverables — process flow, PFMEA, control plan, MSA/GR&R, and dimensional results — on schedule and to the required standard.
- Drive the PPAP program as a production readiness gate; define required submission levels, disposition supplier packages, and ensure process capability (Cpk) is demonstrated on critical and significant characteristics to enable at rate production.
- Lead First Article Inspection (FAI) activities at suppliers and in coordination with internal quality teams; ensure all findings are resolved to closure within project timelines.
- Identify systemic performance gaps; own supplier improvement plans and drive measurable progress against quality, cost, delivery, and capacity targets.
- Lead root cause and corrective action (RCCA) for supplier quality issues and escapes, applying structured problem-solving methods (8D, 5-Why) and validating that corrective actions are robust and sustained across all applicable parts and production lines.
- Apply lean manufacturing and statistical quality tools — including SPC, Cpk trending, and process audits — to drive continuous improvement across the mechanical supply base and eliminate sources of recurring defect.
- (This position can be hired as a Senior Supplier Development Engineer I or Senior Supplier Development Engineer II)**
- Minimum 5 years’ experience working in a regulated industry Aerospace, Medical, Automotive, Industrial, or similar
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
- Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, and statistical process capability (Cpk/Ppk).
- Experience conducting DFM reviews and translating design intent into manufacturing and quality requirements.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), and 3D CAD models.
- Minimum 8 years’ experience working in a regulated industry Aerospace, Medical, Automotive, Industrial, or similar
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
- Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, and statistical process capability (Cpk/Ppk).
- Experience conducting DFM reviews and translating design intent into manufacturing and quality requirements.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), and 3D CAD models.
- Owns problems all the way to resolution — doesn't hand off and walk away.
- Is proactive at suppliers, not reactive; identifies risks before they become escapes.
- Can translate complex engineering requirements into clear, actionable supplier expectations.
- Builds genuine working relationships with supplier technical teams and earns trust through competence.
- Communicates with clarity and urgency across internal engineering, procurement, quality, and program management.
- Thrives in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment and makes high-quality decisions under schedule pressure.
- Brings intellectual curiosity about manufacturing — enjoys spending time on the shop floor understanding how things are made.
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.
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
- a 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- subsidized EV charging
- onsite fitness centers (where available)
- discounted gym memberships
- complimentary snacks and beverages
- 50% employee discount on our popular merch store
- 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.
Base Pay Range (CA Only): $102,400 USD - $156,000 USD
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.
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
