
Equipment Maintenance Technician II
Rocket Lab · Long Beach, CA
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Reliability
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level reliability role at Rocket Lab (aerospace & defense) in Long Beach, CA. Aeronautical, manufacturing or, trade experience.
- They ask for
- 5+ years
- Tools it names
- CNC
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Maintenance Technician roles in California: typical posted base $72k–$116k.
Median of the low and high ends of 9 live postings that list pay, out of 148 maintenance technician openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 156 other live reliability postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (5+ vs 4+)
Typical $76k–$118k, from 14 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Team leadership 39%
- PLC 33%
- Welding 31%
- Tooling 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Reliability team at Rocket Lab
We found 4 people at this company and state: 4 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Allen → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Rocket Lab in Long Beach
22 other open roles at this site · 4 people we found in reliability roles at Rocket Lab.
- Senior Equipment Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Propulsion Assembly Technician III - A Shift · Manufacturing · Technician
- Lead Manufacturing Engineer - Avionics & Test · Manufacturing · Manager
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Assembly & Integration · Manufacturing · Senior
- Senior Weld Engineer I · Manufacturing · Senior
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Fluid Systems · Manufacturing · Senior
Full description from Rocket LabAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
for CNC machines (Haas, DMG, Hermle, and Mazak)
- ✓Create and maintain maintenance plans within the approved systems
- ✓Maintain and repair additional equipment as needed such as inspection equipment, testing equipment, 3d Printers, Vacuum Pumps, etc.
- ✓Diagnose mechanical failures involving bearings, gearboxes, motors, pumps, valves, actuators and drive assemblies.
- ✓Assist with maintenance and repairs of vacuum pumps, chillers, cooling systems, and other specialized manufacturing support equipment.
- ✓Inspect, maintain, and repair industrial air compressors, refrigerated air dryers, filtration equipment, and compressed air distribution systems.
- ✓Read and utilize schematics (mechanical/ electrical/pneumatic/hydraulic)
- ✓Perform other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment
- ✓Support equipment installation, relocation, commissioning, and operational testing
- ✓Coordinate with OEMs and outside service contractors when specialized maintenance or repairs are required
- ✓Be part of an effective work planning process that utilizes work order, planners, and part staging
Qualifications
- ✓High school diploma or equivalency certificate
- ✓5+ years of experience maintaining and repairing CNC equipment, industrial compressed air systems, hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, chillers.
- ✓Strong mechanical troubleshooting and repair capabilities
- ✓Experience working in a highly regulated manufacturing or production environment
- ✓Working knowledge of industrial electrical systems, including, 120v, 208v, 240v, 277v, and 480v
Requirements
- ✓Must be able to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
- ✓Ability to remain focused while working in hazardous environments, while wearing appropriate PPE
- ✓Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this
- ✓Ability to write detailed repair reports (MS Office skills)
- ✓Must be able to work on-call, extended hours and/or weekends as needed
- ✓Must be able to travel to other North American sites to support as needed.
- ✓Ability to support with other facilities related duties as needed
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.
Base salary is just one component of our total rewards package at Rocket Lab. 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.
Eligibility for benefits may vary based on employment status, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role. Benefit programs are subject to change at the company’s discretion.
Hourly Pay Range (CA Only)
$30 — $45 USD
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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.
Facilities
Rocket Lab’s Facilities team is responsible for maintenance, operations, and improvements projects across our locations, making sure that the facilities our teams use every day are well looked after and operating as they should.
Equipment maintenance technician ii
Based out of Rocket Lab's Headquarters in Long Beach, CA the Senior Maintenance Mechanic is responsible for performing preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, repairs and installation support for a wide range of industrial manufacturing equipment., mechanical systems, and facility infrastructure.
What you’ll get to do
- •Maintain and repair all critical CNC assets to ensure their proper operating condition
- •Create and carry out preventative maintenance
Would be nice to have
- +Maintenance experience on vacuum systems, environmental thermal testing
- +Any training certifications are a plus
- +Experience operating a forklift and other related inventory equipment
- +Aeronautical, manufacturing or, trade experience
- +EPA 608 universal certificate
- +Ability to read and interpret electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic schematics and drawings
- +Analytic thinker that gets to the root of the problem and comes up with permanent solution to remedy the issue
- +Ability to maintain a safe and clean working environment while adhering to company policies, quality policies, and industry standards
- +Excellent communicator skills
- +Ability to work independently, prioritized maintenance requests, and collaborate with cross-functional teams
What to expect
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, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on ho
