Space Robotics Mechanical Engineer II

Rocketlab; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Medical/dental/vision plans

Paid vacation and holidays

401(k) with company match

EV charging (onsite)

Job summary

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team in Pasadena, CA, is seeking a Mechanical Engineer II to develop mechanical and electromechanical hardware for space robotics and ground support equipment onsite at Rocket Lab Robotics. You will contribute through concept, design, analysis, drawing release, procurement, assembly, and environmental testing.

The role requires a hands-on engineer with CAD fundamentals, GD&T knowledge, and experience delivering reliable hardware for demanding spaceflight environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace, mechatronics, robotics, or related field.
• 2+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience designing mechanical hardware, mechanisms, aerospace hardware, robotic systems, or electromechanical assemblies.
• Experience with SolidWorks or a comparable CAD platform, including 3D modeling and production drawing creation.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, material selection, manufacturing processes, and mechanical design documentation.
• Ability to use engineering fundamentals, hand calculations, and analysis tools to support design decisions.
• Hands-on experience supporting hardware build, integration, troubleshooting, inspection, or testing.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and test teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop mechanical hardware for space robotics, mechanisms, tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment.
• Translate needs into practical mechanical architectures, interfaces, packaging concepts, and verification approaches.
• Develop hardware through concept, design, analysis, drawing release, procurement, assembly, integration, environmental test, qualification, and delivery.
• Design space mechanisms and motion systems including actuators, gimbals, gear trains, harmonic drives, bearings, motors, sensors, springs, launch locks, release devices.
• Create and maintain product definition in SolidWorks with 3D models, production drawings, BOMs, assembly docs, test procedures, and analyses.
• Apply GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, material selection, and finite element analysis for sound decisions.
• Ensure hardware meets stiffness, strength, thermal, vibration, manufacturability, inspectability requirements.
• Collaborate with electrical, software, systems, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and test teams.

Skills

Bachelor-levelMechanicalEngineering

2+ years experience

SolidWorks

GD&T

EngineeringCalculations

Hands-onHardware

Cross-functionalCollaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CAD software

Job description

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team in Pasadena, CA, is seeking a Mechanical Engineer II to develop mechanical and electromechanical hardware for space robotics and ground support equipment onsite at Rocket Lab Robotics. You will contribute through concept, design, analysis, drawing release, procurement, assembly, and environmental testing.

The role requires a hands-on engineer with CAD fundamentals, GD&T knowledge, and experience delivering reliable hardware for demanding spaceflight environments.