Staff Manufacturing Engineer

Rocket Lab; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company is seeking a Staff Manufacturing Engineer who will be responsible for manufacturing launch vehicles and spacecraft engines. The ideal candidate will lead initiatives for design and process improvements, bringing extensive experience in engineering and a collaborative spirit to drive innovation in a hands-on environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in engineering design and production.
• Proven expertise in DFM and DFA for complex aerospace systems.
• Strong communication and collaborative skills.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive design for manufacturability of assemblies.
• Generate mBOMs and maintain build schedule.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Design for manufacturability

Continuous improvement

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science or a related field

Tools

CAD

Job description

Astra’s mission is to improve life on Earth from space by creating a healthier and more connected planet. Today, Astra offers one of the lowest cost-per-launch dedicated orbital launch services, and one of the industry’s leading flight-proven electric propulsion systems for satellites, the Astra Spacecraft Engine.

The Opportunity

The Astra Staff Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for the manufacture of low volume/high mix space products hardware; specifically, launch vehicles and spacecraft engines.

Collaborating closely with a cohort of electrical, mechanical, test engineers, technicians, program managers, leadership, and system engineers, you will be responsible for the manufacturability and test of spacecraft subsystems such as PCBAs, ion thrusters, feed systems and the launch vehicle.

You will come with a strong desire to be hands-on when determining if an issue is design, assembly, or supplier quality related. You will drive continuous improvement projects to ensure that safety, reliability, and process capability goals are achieved, maintained, and improved. You will be a vital part of the relationship between our development and production teams.

To be successful in this role, you need to be a self-starter that can thrive in ambiguity, identify problems and quickly resolve them, and provide definition to the previously undefined. You should have a commitment to quality and the discipline required to achieve it.

How You'll Fulfill Your Mission

• Own and drive design for manufacturability (DFM) of assemblies and/or subassemblies from design release through ATP Test—lay out the build flow to ensure an efficient, high-quality product flow capable of scaling in time sensitive environments.
• Represent the manufacturing organization in cross-functional teams to down-select concepts that are being evaluated for their feasibility.
• Generate mBOMs, CONOPS, build schedule, and consistently maintain throughout the development process.
• Create work instructions, specifications, and best practices across multiple high-fidelity processes. Help standardize processes across the manufacturing team.
• Implement new manufacturing capabilities and think creatively to resolve and challenge conflicting requirements.
• Ability to work with and train technicians in a hands-on hardware environment, writing detailed work instructions and process plans.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and implementation of new capital equipment for establishing expanded production processes.
• Responsible for Issue Management, tracking failure modes, addressing root cause, and verifying closure of issues from assigned owners.
• Assist with design, analysis, and integration of sub-assemblies to resolve off-nominal non-conformance and develop sustainable repair procedures.
• Develop production testing processes and requirements for high pressure gas systems to support high rate production testing targets.
• Adapt to evolving design and production challenges.

Why We Value You

• 5+ years of relevant experience, including experience leading electrical and/or mechanical engineering designs from inception to production
• Expertise in design for manufacturability and design for assembly, successfully taking products through development, testing, and production
• Familiarity with spacecraft and/or launch vehicle design and test obtained through educational training and/or on the-job experience in a related field
• Experience with capacity modeling, process mapping and fault analysis
• Demonstrated experience with CAD and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) experience
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for the team's spirit of innovation and mission of improving manufacturing for spacecraft and launch vehicles
• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Ability to succinctly present recommendations to stakeholders, the customer, and leadership
• Ability to make appropriate assumptions and perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals to create rationale for clear recommendations
• Experience prioritizing and executing tasks in a high-pressure environment with ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work
• Willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed
• Will sometimes be working directly with the hardware on the floor and will have to be comfortable stooping, bending, and standing for long periods of time
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science or a related field. An additional four years of experience may be substituted for a degree

Desired Multipliers

• Experience with low-medium volume manufacturing, or design for manufacture and product development life cycle, or quality tools including root cause and corrective action, PFMEAs, QMS, and process auditing and statistical analysis of quality metrics
• Experience in control and monitoring of complex automated systems and risk assessment/reduction of the system
• Working knowledge of Python or other coding language

The pay range for this role is: $155,000 - $187,000 per year

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base salary range in the San Francisco Bay Area and excludes additional earnings such as bonus and benefits. If your salary requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply.

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Astra, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.

San Francisco Applicants: Astra will consider applicants with arrest and conviction records (criminal histories) in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

ITAR Requirements: This position requires compliance with U.S. Government space technology trade restrictions, specifically the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and additional regulations governing satellite, launch vehicle, missile, and other related technologies. All jobs restricted by these regulations will be contingent upon the applicant’s status as a documented U.S. Person or their ability to receive a trade license from the cognizant government agency; in addition to any required company background checks and in compliance with applicable U.S. and California laws. Similarly, positions requiring the ability to work on government contracts or a security clearance are also contingent upon the applicants ability to receive the appropriate clearance and be allowed to work on U.S. government contracts.