Manager, Mechanical Engineering

Rocket Lab Corporation•Pasadena, CA

6d•$151,500 - $252,500•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is hiring a hands-on mechanical engineering leader for its Pasadena, California site at Rocket Lab Robotics. The Manager, Mechanical Engineering will lead and support the mechanical engineering function while contributing technically to programs. The role combines people management, technical execution, staffing and utilization support, and hands-on involvement in the design, analysis, build, test, and delivery of flight and ground hardware. The manager will develop a high-performing team and engineering culture, supporting engineers’ utilization, career growth, performance, and well-being. The team works on space robotics, precision mechanisms, electromechanical assemblies, tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, and related high-reliability hardware. The position is responsible for helping programs deliver validated mechanical and electromechanical systems to technical, cost, schedule, and quality targets, from concept through qualification and delivery.

Requirements

Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or another related engineering discipline.
At least 8 years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience, including experience leading development efforts and supporting teams of engineers.
Track record delivering high-reliability or spaceflight hardware from concept through design, build, integration, environmental test, qualification, and delivery.
Experience managing or technically leading engineers, including prioritization, mentoring, technical review, performance feedback, staffing support, and professional development.
Strong background in mechanical design, precision mechanisms, robotics, electromechanical assemblies, aerospace hardware, tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, or related systems.
Experience across the mechanical development cycle, including requirements definition, concept development, trade studies, CAD, analysis, drawing release, procurement, assembly, test, troubleshooting, and production readiness.
Experience designing and delivering space mechanisms or similar high-reliability motion systems, including motorized mechanisms, actuators, gimbals, gear trains, harmonic drives, bearings, motors, rotary sensors, springs, release devices, and kinematic or pseudo-kinematic interfaces.
Strong experience with SolidWorks as the primary CAD tool, including CAD modeling, production drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, mechanical analysis, bills of material, and design documentation.
Hands-on experience supporting hardware assembly, integration, troubleshooting, inspection, environmental test, qualification, and design iteration.
For U.S. office candidates, must meet applicable U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR eligibility or eligibility to obtain required authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with NASA, JPL, DoD, commercial space, or prime contractor flight programs.
Experience with robotic manipulators, in-space servicing, planetary robotics, precision spacecraft mechanisms, or similar space robotics systems.
Experience establishing or scaling a mechanical engineering function, including hiring, technical standards, design review practices, mentoring, resource planning, and engineering process development.
Experience with AS9100, ISO 9001, NASA standards, configuration management, quality systems, root cause investigations, failure analysis, nonconformance disposition, or test anomaly resolution.
Strong communication, documentation, presentation, problem-solving, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and develop mechanical engineers delivering space robotics, precision mechanisms, electromechanical assemblies, tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, and related high-reliability hardware.
Foster an engineering culture emphasizing technical ownership, practical design execution, clear documentation, hands-on hardware delivery, and accountability.
Support staffing, utilization, mentoring, performance feedback, career development, resource planning, budgets, and functional priorities across programs.
Contribute technically by developing mechanical concepts, creating and reviewing SolidWorks CAD, performing trade studies, supporting analysis, resolving design issues, and driving hardware through build, test, and delivery.
Lead mechanical design efforts from concept through CAD, analysis, drawing release, procurement, assembly, integration, environmental test, qualification, and delivery.
Drive technical decisions regarding mechanical architecture, packaging, interfaces, tolerance strategy, materials, fabrication approach, assembly flow, inspection planning, verification, and design risk.
Identify technical, schedule, staffing, manufacturing, and test risks, and develop mitigation plans to improve program execution and delivery.

Benefits

Company stock as part of total compensation.
Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
Medical plans, including HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with a company HSA contribution.
Dental coverage.
Vision coverage.
Paid vacation and sick time.
11 paid holidays.
Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
Paid parental leave.
Disability insurance.
Life insurance.
401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Subsidized EV charging.
Onsite fitness centers where available.
Discounted gym memberships.
Complimentary snacks and beverages.
50% employee discount on the company merchandise store.
Other employee discounts.