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Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Composites

Rocket Lab
Auckland, NZ Full Time Negotiable 24 days ago

About the Job

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our e...

SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER - COMPOSITES

In this role, you’ll work across both development and production, helping bring composite structures from prototype through to reliable, repeatable manufacturing. You’ll be involved in everything from tooling and process development to resolving issues on the floor and improving product quality.

Key Responsibilities

Take products from prototype through to full-scale production, making sure they’re ready for the real world
Design and develop composite tooling, moulds, and manufacturing processes
Work alongside technicians and engineers to solve problems on the floor as they happen
Investigate non-conformances, lead root cause analysis, and make sure fixes actually stick
Drive improvements across quality, cost, and delivery—not just maintain the status quo
Build clear, practical procedures so processes are easy to follow and repeatable
Support validation, testing, and implementation of product and process improvements
Use data (SPC, Pareto, etc.) to understand performance and guide better decisions

Required Skills & Abilities

You’re someone who understands how things get built - not just in theory, but in practice.
Experience working with ERP/PLM systems (TeamCenter, Infor LN or similar)
CAD experience, ideally with Siemens NX
A solid background in manufacturing or production environments
Strong understanding of quality systems, metrics, and continuous improvement
Hands-on experience with structured problem-solving (DFMEA, PFMEA, root cause analysis)
Familiarity with Lean or Six Sigma tools and ways of working
Experience with composite materials, tooling, and manufacturing processes
Confidence troubleshooting issues and making decisions in a fast-paced environment
Experience in aerospace or other high-performance industries
Knowledge of advanced composite materials (resins, ablatives, sandwich structures)
Experience with composite repairs and assembly into larger systems
Exposure to capacity modelling, value stream mapping, or process mapping
Comfortable working across teams and communicating with both engineers and technicians

This role suits someone who likes being close to the action - solving real problems, improving how things are built, and taking ownership of the outcome. If this is you, Apply today! 
 
WHAT TO EXPECT 
We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.   

Work Authorization

Citizenship of AU / NZ / EU / NATO

Apply now

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