Manager, Mechanical Engineering

About this role

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

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.

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

MANAGER, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Based on site at Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA, the Manager, Mechanical Engineering will lead and support the mechanical engineering function while also contributing technically to programs. This role is intended for a hands-on mechanical engineering leader who can manage people, guide technical execution, support staffing and utilization, and still engage deeply in design, analysis, build, test, and delivery of flight and ground hardware.

The ideal candidate has strong technical depth in mechanical design, precision mechanisms, robotics, spaceflight hardware, CAD, GD&T, analysis, manufacturing, assembly, integration, and environmental test, along with the leadership skills required to build a strong engineering culture and develop a high-performing team. You will support utilization, career growth, performance, and well-being of mechanical engineers while helping programs deliver fully validated mechanical and electromechanical systems that meet technical, cost, schedule, and quality targets.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of mechanical engineers delivering space robotics, precision mechanisms, electromechanical assemblies, tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, and related high-reliability hardware.

• Foster a high-performance engineering culture built around technical ownership, practical design execution, clear documentation, hands-on hardware delivery, and accountability.

• Support staffing, utilization, mentoring, performance feedback, career development, resource planning, budgets, and functional priorities across programs.

• Serve as a hands-on technical contributor while leading the team, including developing mechanical concepts, creating and reviewing SolidWorks CAD, performing trade studies, supporting analysis, resolving design issues, and driving hardware through build, test, and delivery.

• Own and lead mechanical design efforts from concept through CAD, analysis, drawing release, procurement, assembly, integration, environmental test, qualification, and delivery.

• Drive technical decisions on mechanical architecture, packaging, interfaces, tolerance strategy, materials, fabrication approach, assembly flow, inspection planning, verification, and design risk.

• Identify technical, schedule, staffing, manufacturing, and test risks; develop mitigation plans to improve program execution and delivery.

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or another related engineering discipline.

• 8+ years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience, including experience leading development efforts and supporting teams of engineers.

• Proven track record delivering high-reliability or spaceflight hardware from concept through design, build, integration, environmental test, qualification, and delivery.

• Experience managing or technically leading engineers, including prioritization, mentoring, technical review, performance feedback, staffing support, and professional development.

• Strong background in mechanical design, precision mechanisms, robotics, electromechanical assemblies, aerospace hardware, tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, or related systems.

• Experience with the full mechanical development cycle, including requirements definition, concept development, trade studies, CAD, analysis, drawing release, procurement, assembly, test, troubleshooting, and production readiness.

• Experience designing and delivering space mechanisms or similar high-reliability motion systems, including motorized mechanisms, actuators, gimbals, gear trains, harmonic drives, bearings, motors, rotary sensors, springs, release devices, and kinematic or pseudo-kinematic interfaces.

• Strong experience with SolidWorks as the primary CAD tool, including CAD modeling, production drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, mechanical analysis, bills of material, and design documentation.

• Hands-on experience supporting hardware assembly, integration, troubleshooting, inspection, environmental test, qualification, and design iteration.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Direct experience with NASA, JPL, DoD, commercial space, or prime contractor flight programs.

• Experience with robotic manipulators, in-space servicing, planetary robotics, precision spacecraft mechanisms, or similar space robotics systems.

• Experience establishing or scaling a mechanical engineering function, including hiring, technical standards, design review practices, mentoring, resource planning, and engineering process development.

• Experience with AS9100, ISO 9001, NASA standard

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