Lead Manufacturing Engineer - Avionics & Test

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.

Rocket Lab’s Manufacturing team are the builders and the doers who work with our advanced machinery across our global manufacturing sites to get our satellites, satellite components, and rockets out the door. They bring the designs of our engineers to life by using advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D printing to create our hardware and are responsible for delivering our projects and missions on time and on budget to our customers.

Based out of Rocket Lab's Headquarters in Long Beach, CA the Lead Manufacturing Engineer - Avionics & Test is responsible for process development, implementation and sustainment of Avionics Components and Assemblies used across all programs. You will support the Senior Manufacturing Engineering Manager for Avionics and Space Systems, Production, Test and Design organizations, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

• •Coach, mentor and develop engineers to achieve new heights in their careers.
• •Perform weekly, quarterly and yearly reviews with their direct employees
• •Interview and hire candidates to fill new roles
• •Create team goals and metrics to drive continuous improvement projects
• •Lead/organize meetings as necessary to drive project completion
• •Contribute to design reviews acting as an expert in design for manufacture, design for test, productivity, supplier capability assessments, quality control, etc.
• •Oversee introduction and implementation of new products and product revisions
• •Perform initial Value Stream Mapping Exercises, Method of Manufacture plans, cell design, etc.
• •Define and implement Factory layouts, Equipment selection, FAT, SAT, and production commissioning
• •Capital and facilities justification, project management and implementation
• •Lead problem containment and structured root cause & corrective action investigations
• •Lead the continuous improvement process in your area using lean tools and techniques such as 5S

• +Advanced engineering degree (Preferably Electrical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or Mechanical)
• +8+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• +Working experience with environmental acceptance/production acceptance testing, such as vibration, shock, thermal, and vacuum
• +Understanding of instrumentation, interfaces, and sensors including power supplies, oscilloscopes, serial devices, switch topologies, accelerometers, thermocouples, RTDs, and 4-20mA sensors
• +Experience with designing, implementing, and supporting a production line and/or build area
• +Experience transitioning products from design to production as a part of cross-functional team in a fast-paced, iterative design environment
• +Demonstrated experience with DFMEA, PFMEA methodologies, Fault Tree Analysis, Pareto analysis, root cause and corrective action

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.

Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package , giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

$175,000 — $205,000 USD

Base Salary

$124,000 — $170,000 USD

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, an