Manufacturing Engineer II / Senior - Fluid Systems | Rocket Lab
Overview
You will own the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of propulsion component, assembly, and integration manufacturing processes at Rocket Lab's Long Beach, CA headquarters. Your primary focus is TIG and OTW welding of tubing components, where you will drive quality and reliability for aerospace systems. Collaborate with engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to resolve complex manufacturing challenges. Scale processes for a fast-moving space company, directly impacting Electron and Neutron launch vehicles. This role stands out because you will lead capital equipment upgrades and root cause investigations from day one.
What You'll Do9
- 1Develop and qualify precision welding and fabrication methods for tubing components using TIG, MIG, and OTW to meet aerospace specifications.
- 2Conduct thorough inspections of welded components, employing NDE/NDT methods to identify and rectify defects.
- 3Collaborate with engineering teams to interpret and implement design specifications for manufacturability.
- 4Lead problem containment and root cause/corrective action investigations for manufacturing discrepancies.
- 5Drive quality initiatives with the quality team, reducing non-conformances and improving process capability.
- 6Act as liaison between production, quality, supply chain, and design engineering for complex problem solving and process changes.
- 7Identify and execute capital equipment, machine, and layout upgrades, including business case preparation.
- 8Implement Lean and Six Sigma tools to drive continuous improvement in the tube shop and assembly areas.
- 9Develop new planning, production, quality, ERP, and data collection processes where none exist.
Requirements8
- 1Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, or other engineering discipline.
- 22+ years (Engineer II) or 5+ years (Senior) developing and introducing fabrication methods such as OTW, TIG, proof testing, and cleaning.
- 3Experience setting up and/or operating a tube shop or build area (Engineer II) or experience setting up and operating (Senior).
- 48+ years developing fabrication methods for Senior level with strong metal working knowledge.
- 5Ability to design tooling for aerospace manufacturing environments.
- 6Hands-on experience with CNC machining, additive manufacturing, or welding is preferred.
- 7Capable of solving complex problems with little supervision and delivering accurate presentations.
- 8U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or refugee/asylum status required to comply with ITAR.
Salary Insight
$100 - $165k per year
Location
Required Skills
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