Senior Technical Trainer

Rocket Lab Corporation•Middle River, MD

1d•$30 - $40•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Technical Trainer is based at Rocket Lab’s Space Structures Complex in Middle River, Maryland. The role develops and delivers hands-on training to ensure technicians are proficient in aerospace manufacturing, assembly, and repair processes while meeting safety, quality, and regulatory standards. The trainer works with engineering, quality, and production teams to assess skills, address process gaps, and promote continuous improvement on the shop floor. The position supports Rocket Lab’s Neutron program, a reusable medium-lift launch vehicle. The trainer creates and maintains training materials, evaluates technician proficiency, supports onboarding and cross-training, and incorporates manufacturing lessons learned into training content. The job involves physical shop-floor work, including use of manufacturing tools and equipment, work at heights, and the ability to meet the listed physical requirements.

Requirements

High school diploma and 8 or more years of experience in manufacturing or a related industry.
Experience training and developing and implementing learning strategies.
Must be certified or able to become certified in all composites work centers.
Intermediate math skills.
Experience training and mentoring newer technicians on industry standards and specific processes.
Expert knowledge and demonstrated ability to use pneumatic tools, calipers, micrometers, hand tools, power tools, and precision measurement instruments to achieve complex composite assemblies.
Familiarity with drilling, laminating, and assembly prints and conforming work to them.
Experience working with material data sheets.
Demonstrated experience coordinating cross-functional teams and managing complex projects in a rapidly evolving environment.
Ability to perform the listed physical duties, including standing or walking for extended periods (at least 8 hours), climbing ladders, working in tight spaces and at heights, and repetitive bending, twisting, stooping, crawling, grasping, pushing, pulling, and stretching.
Ability to wear a respirator when required.
Ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
Proficiency operating lift trucks, scissor lifts, and other support equipment as needed.
Willingness to work overtime as needed, including weekdays and weekends.
For candidates working in U.S. offices, must meet the applicable U.S. Government space technology export-control eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

Broad manufacturing industry experience from previous appointments.
Advanced prepreg manufacturing knowledge.
Resin infusion knowledge.
Bachelor of Science degree in learning or training development.

Responsibilities

Develop and deliver training programs for aerospace manufacturing, assembly, and repair processes.
Train personnel on aerospace-grade materials, including prepregs, resins, fibers, core materials, and adhesives.
Ensure training emphasizes compliance with aerospace standards, engineering drawings, and specifications, including FAA and AS9100 requirements.
Create and maintain work instructions, visual aids, and training documentation aligned with aerospace quality requirements.
Evaluate technician proficiency through practical assessments, on-the-job observations, and skills certifications.
Support onboarding, recurrent training, and cross-training of composite technicians.
Collaborate with engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams to address defects, rework, and process improvements.
Troubleshoot composite manufacturing issues and incorporate lessons learned into training content.
Promote a strong culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement on the production floor.