Senior Manufacturing Engineer I

Rocket Lab • Tucson, AZ

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance challenges for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Rocket Lab Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains. As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer I for Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, AZ, you will have the opportunity to support Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture by integrating, testing, and manufacturing advanced electro-optical space payloads.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or related field
• 5+ years of experience integration, test, and manufacturing of complex systems
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
• Experience with optical alignment, metrology, interferometry, and imaging-system characterization
• Familiarity with optical benches, cleanroom practices, contamination control, and environmental testing
• Strong data analysis, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Understanding of electromechanical assembly, tooling, test, and quality techniques

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical or electrical engineering
• Strong working knowledge of EEE piece parts, PCBs, and PCBAs
• An understanding of sensors, signal conditioning, and data acquisition electronics
• Familiar with spacecraft harness design and best practices
• Hands-on experience using electrical test equipment
• Experience working in a clean room
• Familiarity with MPR systems (ideally Costpoint)
• Experience with EO/IR payloads, infrared focal planes, or space-based sensor systems
• Experience writing alignment procedures, test scripts, and verification plans
• Experience with automated test equipment or optical STE
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing activities for advanced EO/IR optical payloads used in spaceborne sensor systems
• Execute hands-on optical integration tasks including optical bench setup, alignment, metrology, and environmental test readiness—we build beautiful things
• Develop and refine test procedures, optical characterization methods, and performance-validation processes
• Support environmental tests (TVAC, vibe, shock), monitor optical performance, and ensure compliance with mission requirements
• Drive resolution of integration issues, test anomalies, and optical performance deviations—we hustle and we do the impossible
• Work cross-functionally with Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, and AIT teams to ensure seamless optical-mechanical-electrical integration
• Support customer reviews, data packages, and technical briefings
• Identify opportunities to improve alignment methods, test tooling, and data-analysis workflows

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior