Senior Mechanical Development & Test Engineer II

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team builds spacecraft, payloads, and the components and subsystems that support space missions. Based at the company’s global headquarters in Long Beach, California, the Senior Mechanical Development & Test Engineer II is responsible for end-to-end design, build, test, and execution of complex internal test capabilities. These capabilities may support qualification testing and subsequent high-volume acceptance testing requiring substantial automation. Tested hardware may include avionics boxes, complex mechanisms, and fully integrated spacecraft in demanding environments. The role leads qualification campaigns and development of acceptance-test infrastructure for production use, advises on in-house testing capabilities and future needs, and manages test projects from planning through execution. It also involves hands-on implementation and validation of test infrastructure, collaboration with design and test engineers to establish requirements and iterate on concepts, and design of complex Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE). The position may involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, as well as occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas. Rocket Lab offers company stock and a comprehensive benefits package, including an Employee Stock Purchase Program, medical, dental and vision coverage, paid time off and holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with company match. Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers where available, discounted gym memberships, snacks and beverages, and employee discounts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or another engineering discipline.
At least 8 years of engineering experience in the aerospace industry.
Experience using NX Nastran, NX CAD, and Teamcenter.
Experience with 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 using 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 and vision coverage.
Paid vacation and sick time.
11 paid holidays.
Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
Paid parental leave.
Disability and 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.