Senior Manufacturing Engineer- Composites
About The Position
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Composites, for its Space Structures Complex production facility in Middle River, Maryland. The role develops, implements, and continuously improves composite manufacturing technologies and processes used to produce the Neutron Launch Vehicle structure. The engineer will help define production capacity, equipment, tooling, layouts, and documented processes, and will support facility construction, design reviews, product introductions, and manufacturing problem resolution. The position also contributes to automation and manufacturing-system integration while developing and mentoring engineers and technicians.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or manufacturing engineering, or another technical degree.
- At least 5 years of composite manufacturing experience.
Nice To Haves
- Working experience with capacity modeling, process mapping, Lean/Six Sigma, and value stream mapping.
- Experience with 3D CAD software and tooling design.
- Experience in Automated Fiber Placement technology.
- Experience with both autoclave and out-of-autoclave composite manufacturing techniques.
- Experience with non-destructive testing or inspection of composite components.
- Experience in qualification and acceptance testing of composite structural components.
Responsibilities
- Identify, plan, and execute capital equipment, machine, and layout definitions to meet volume requirements, including preparing business cases.
- Develop production processes and ensure they are accurately and clearly documented, including testing procedures, health and safety requirements, and supervisor sign-offs.
- Design, develop, and implement tooling and equipment for production to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost requirements.
- Contribute to facility construction projects through requirements generation, design reviews, and implementation support.
- Contribute to design reviews as an expert in design for manufacture, design for test, productivity, supplier capability assessments, and quality control.
- Oversee the introduction and implementation of new products and product revisions related to the Neutron launch vehicle composite structure.
- Lead problem containment and structured root-cause and corrective-action investigations.
- Analyze and resolve manufacturing discrepancies and non-conformances.
- Introduce automation where appropriate and ensure equipment data links directly to MRP and quality systems.
- Identify risks and improvements to develop the manufacturing engineering department to meet company needs.
- Develop and mentor less experienced engineers and technicians.
Benefits
- Company stock as part of total compensation.
- Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
- Medical HMO and PPO options, plus a company-sponsored medical HSA plan option.
- Dental and vision coverage.
- Three weeks of paid vacation and five days of sick leave per year.
- Eleven paid holidays per year.
- Flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts.
- Paid parental leave.
- Disability insurance.
- Life insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
- Free snacks and drinks onsite.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
