Senior Manufacturing Engineer

ABOUT ROCKET LAB Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations. Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope. ABOUT THE ROLE Manufacturing Engineering powers Rocket Lab’s factories from concept to full-scale production. We turn early ideas into manufacturable designs, build and optimise the systems that make them real, and constantly push for faster, better, smarter ways to build. We engineer the factories that build the rockets, boosting quality, cutting cost, and accelerating build rate. We're seeking experienced Senior Manufacturing Engineers across multiple disciplines to take ownership of complex products, lead problem-solving initiatives, and drive manufacturing excellence. THE OPPORTUNITIES: We're hiring across four key manufacturing disciplines: Assembly & Integration – Mechanical, Assembly, Propulsion, Mechanical Test Avionics & Test – Electronics manufacturing, electrical test, debugging systems Composites – Advanced materials, resins, ablatives, sandwich structures Machining – CNC programming, precision manufacturing, GD&T In your application, please indicate which discipline(s) align with your experience and interests. YOU’LL GET TO: Own & Ship: Own products in production as the go-to expert Drive teams to hit production targets at top quality Execute product improvements and design qualifications Solve & Fix: Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions on failures Disposition non-conformances on flight hardware using engineering judgment and risk assessment Bridge production, quality, supply chain, and design engineering for rapid problem-solving Build & Improve: Create bulletproof production procedures and processes Design reliable assemblies and test fixtures Develop mission-critical test methods for safety-critical systems Champion Lean/Six Sigma continuous improvement Lead & Scale: Drive design reviews as DFM/DFT expert Launch new products and revisions into production Plan and execute capital equipment upgrades with business cases Implement planning, quality, ERP, and data systems Mentor & Deliver: Train engineers and production teams Break down complex projects and deliver on time Establish and execute project plans autonomously Maintain product manuals and lessons-learned docs WHAT YOU BRING: The Must-Haves: Engineering degree (Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Chemical, Materials, or related) 5+ years manufacturing/production/process engineering in the trenches Well-tested debugging complex systems on the factory floor You ship results independently and lead teams to do the same You influence stakeholders, assess risk fast, and implement lasting solutions Thrive in high pressure environments – can hustle and built for speed Your Specialty (one or more): Avionics & Test: Expert-level debugging of electro-mechanical systems, instrumentation (oscilloscopes, power supplies, sensors, serial devices) Composites: Deep knowledge of resins, ablatives, sandwich structures, tooling, and manufacturing processes Machining: Advanced GD&T, inspection methods, CAM software (3/5-axis CNC), 3+ years shop experience…