Lead, Manufacturing Engineer

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, separati...

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 Develop...

As a Lead, Manufacturing Engineer based at Rocket Lab’s site in Silver Spring, Maryland, you will lead a team dedicated to transforming innovative spaceflight mechanism concepts, specifically separation systems, into manufacturable designs. You will play a critical role in designing, building and optimizing the syst...

Lead and manage a team of Manufacturing Engineers, providing mentorship, guidance and performance management to achieve team and organizational goals.
Conduct feasibility studies and research and development projects to evaluate and implement advanced manufacturing technologies.
Partner with Product Development teams to incorporate Design for Manufacturing principles into separation systems ensuring manufacturability at scale.
Design, procure, install, and validate production lines and factory systems for assembly, testing and verification of spaceflight mechanisms. • Take engineering ownership of production lines to remove blockers, improve yield and increase build efficiency.
Triage and diagnose production issues, conduct root cause analyses, implement corrective actions to mitigate risks and ensure long-term reliability.
Drive continuous improvements across manufacturing and test.
Contribute to change management, assessing risk and impact of design process changes.
Support business system and process improvements to enhance organizational effectiveness and operational efficiency.

B.S. in Engineering
5+ years of relevant work experience in Manufacturing, Production, or Process Engineering
Proven hands-on experience proactively identifying and solving complex multifaceted problems in manufacturing systems
Demonstrated experience with designing, implementing and supporting production lines
Track record of successfully leading teams to achieve technical and operational goals
Familiarity with typical aerospace mechanical fabrication techniques, materials, and surface finishes
Demonstrated experience with DFMEA, PFMEA methodologies, Fault Tree Analysis, Pareto analysis, root cause and corrective action methodologies
8+ years of experience in production or manufacturing engineering 
1+ years managing or leading teams
Experience with capital and facilities justification, project management and implementation
Experience transitioning products from design to production as a part of cross-functional team in a fast-paced, iterative design environment 
 Ability to travel up to 10% of the year 

Citizenship of AU / NZ / EU / NATO