Senior Mechanical Development & Test Engineer I
About The Position
Based at Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, California, the Senior Mechanical Development & Test Engineer I is responsible for the end-to-end design, build, testing, and execution of complex internal test capabilities. These may include qualification test setups and automated infrastructure for high-volume acceptance testing. Tested hardware may include avionics boxes, complex mechanisms, and fully integrated spacecraft in demanding environments. The role leads qualification test campaigns and development of acceptance-test infrastructure, advises on in-house test capabilities and future needs, and manages test projects from start to finish, including resourcing, scheduling, and budgeting as needed. It also involves hands-on implementation and validation of test infrastructure, collaboration with design and test engineers to refine concepts and test requirements, and the design of complex Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE). Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team builds spacecraft, payloads, and spaceflight components and subsystems for a range of missions, including interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security and defense initiatives.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or another engineering discipline.
- At least 5 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 implementation on the production floor.
- Advise on in-house test capabilities, limitations, 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 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 the total compensation package.
- 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
