Senior Manufacturing Engineer I

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.

SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER I

Rocket Lab Robotics specializes in high-performance robotic systems and precision mechanisms that enable the most ambitious space missions, including NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover and CADRE lunar rovers. Leveraging Mars-proven expertise from Motiv Space Systems, we deliver scalable, flight-proven solutions – such as robotic arms, motion control systems, and solar array drive assemblies (SADAs) – to support planetary exploration, satellite servicing, and national security missions.

We are currently seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer I to be based onsite at Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA. The Manufacturing Engineer will be responsible for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing technologies, build processes, work instructions, tooling, and production systems used to assemble, integrate, test, and scale robotics and electromechanical hardware.

You will work closely with design engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and highly skilled technicians to translate designs into efficient, repeatable, and well-documented manufacturing processes. You’ll play a critical role in supporting all aspects of production at Rocket Lab Robotics by taking ownership of products released to production, removing production blockers, dispositioning issue tickets, performing root-cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on problem solving, rapid iteration, and building the processes that enable complex robotics hardware to move from prototype through production.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Plan and execute the build, integration, and test of robotics systems, electromechanical assemblies, tooling, fixtures, and related production hardware.

• Review fabrication and assembly documentation for flight and production hardware, providing manufacturability feedback to improve build efficiency, reduce risk, and optimize cost without compromising quality or performance.

• Develop concepts of operations, manufacturing plans, and build strategies for robotic mechanisms, automation equipment, and integrated modules.

• Design, develop, and drive build of production tooling, fixtures, handling equipment, and test setups that improve safety, quality, throughput, and repeatability.

• Develop build methods to increase throughput, reduce opportunities for error, simplify technician workflows, and improve manufacturability.

• Support robotics integration and production teams in developing and enabling day-to-day execution of assembly, inspection, repair/retrofit, integration, and system test procedures.

• Collect, document, and communicate lessons learned from builds to design engineering, manufacturing, quality, and production teams.

• Develop and maintain clear work instructions, travelers, test procedures, and visual aids to ensure effective communication between engineering and technicians.

• Oversee the creation, maintenance, and accuracy of production travelers and manufacturing documentation to ensure traceability, quality compliance, and efficient execution of manufacturing processes.

• Contribute to, develop, and own build procedures; document non-conformances and translate findings into actionable process improvements.

• Maintain integrated planning and build documents that reflect current hardware configurations, work scope, priorities, and production readiness.

• Design and develop tools and hardware to enable robotics processing, assembly, checkout, and required testing capabilities.

• Support development, buildout, and continuous improvement of robotics production areas, labs, and manufacturing processes.

• Closely collaborate with management, peers from other departments, and highly skilled technicians on daily production and development activities.

• Manage and track multiple priorities while maintaining focus on common project goals, schedule, quality, and safety.

• Identify and mitigate risks tied to shortages, late drawing release, process planning gaps, and supply constraints

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS A SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER I

• Bachelor of Science degree in industrial, mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing, robotics, or related engineering discipline.

• 5+ years of experience building, testing, or supporting hardware in aerospace, robotics, automation, automotive, medical device, defense, or another high-reliability manufacturing environment. Internships and school projects qualify.

• Demonstrated proficiency in reading and interpreting engineering drawings, blueprints, schematics, and wiring diagrams.

• Well versed in (ASME Y14.5) GD&T and inspection meth

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