Manufacturing Engineering Manager – Propulsion

Job Description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager for Propulsion and Sub-Assemblies. This role is pivotal in technology and platform development for high-performance missions across Space Systems, Electron, and Neutron products. The Manager will lead a high-performing team, collaborating with the development team and taking ownership of product development, manufacturing, and testing programs.What This Role Involves:

• Coaching, mentoring, and developing engineers.
• Conducting performance reviews and hiring new team members.
• Creating team goals and metrics for continuous improvement.
• Leading meetings to drive project completion.
• Contributing to design reviews, focusing on manufacturability and testability.
• Overseeing the introduction and implementation of new products and revisions.
• Providing engineering support for production processes.
• Analyzing and improving production safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Developing and documenting production processes.
• Designing and implementing tooling and equipment.
• Leading root cause and corrective action investigations.
• Resolving manufacturing discrepancies and non-conformances.
• Liaising between production, quality, supply chain, and design engineering teams.
• Identifying and executing capital equipment upgrades.
• Leading continuous improvement initiatives using lean tools.
• Introducing automation and ensuring data links to MRP and quality systems.
• Developing and mentoring less experienced engineers and technicians.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in engineering (Preferably Electrical, or Aerospace).
• 8+ years’ of experience in a design, development, manufacturing and test environment.
• Experience in coaching, mentoring, and developing engineers with different levels of experience.
• Expert capability to execute projects for product, process and equipment manufacturing improvements including the design, build, commissioning and production hand-off.
• Experience in developing, implementing, and continuously improving processes through strong working knowledge of fluids assembly, tooling, test, and quality techniques.
• Expert knowledge for aerospace materials including but not limited to TIG, EB and laser welding, heat treating, metal forming, additive manufacturing, CNC machining and precision cleaning.
• Experience performing root cause and corrective action projects and PFMEA / DFMEA of complex manufacturing processes and products.

What Rocket Lab Offers:

• Company equity.
• Top-tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option.
• Dental and vision coverage.
• 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year.
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• Flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts.
• Paid parental leave.
• Disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Discounted employee stock purchase program.
• Subsidized EV charging stations.
• Onsite gym, food and drinks.
• Childcare concierge and other discounts.