ShopFloorJobs
Rocket Lab logo

Senior Equipment Maintenance Technician

Rocket Lab · Long Beach, CA

Apply on Rocket Lab ↗
Level
Technician
Team
Reliability
Experience asked
8+ 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
8+ 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

Typical $76k–$118k, from 14 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
More than usual (8+ vs 4+)

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.

It asks for 8+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coverage

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

All 23 roles at Rocket Lab →
Full description from Rocket LabAs posted on their careers site.Show

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
  • ✓8+ 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
Show full description ↓

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.

Senior equipment maintenance technician

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

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

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 how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

For candidates seeking to work in us offices only

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here .

R

More Reliability roles nearby