Senior Mechanical Development & Test Engineer II
About The Position
The Senior Mechanical Development & Test Engineer II is based at Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role is responsible for the end-to-end design, build, test, and execution of complex internal test capabilities, potentially including qualification setups and highly automated, high-volume acceptance test systems. Testing may involve avionics boxes, complex mechanisms, and fully integrated spacecraft in demanding environments. The engineer leads test campaigns and test infrastructure development, advises on in-house testing capabilities and future needs, and manages test projects from planning through delivery. The role includes hands-on implementation and validation of test infrastructure, collaboration with design and test engineers to refine concepts and requirements, and design of complex Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE). Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team develops spacecraft, payloads, and components for commercial, exploration, and national security missions. The company offers competitive compensation, company stock, and a comprehensive benefits package.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or another engineering discipline.
- 8 or more years of engineering experience in the aerospace industry.
- Experience using NX Nastran, NX CAD, and Teamcenter packages.
- Experience in component- and system-level environmental testing.
- Experience with test automation and post-test data analysis.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s or PhD in mechanical engineering or another engineering discipline.
- Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
- Experience with Python for automation and data analysis.
- Experience leading teams of engineers and technicians.
Responsibilities
- Lead qualification test campaigns.
- Lead development of high-volume acceptance test infrastructure and its insertion into the production floor.
- Advise on in-house test capabilities, limits, and future needs.
- Manage test projects end-to-end, including resourcing, scheduling, and budgeting as needed.
- Perform hands-on implementation and validation of test infrastructure.
- Work with design and other test engineers to iterate on design concepts and determine test requirements.
- Design complex Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE) to support test implementation.
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.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
