SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Rocket Lab Robotics, a division of Rocket Lab, is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to lead manufacturing process development and optimization for high-performance robotic systems and precision mechanisms used in space exploration and national security missions. The role is based onsite in Pasadena, CA.
You will own the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing technologies, build processes, work instructions, tooling, and production systems for assembling, integrating, testing, and scaling robotics and electromechanical hardware. This includes flight-proven solutions such as robotic arms, motion control systems, and solar array drive assemblies (SADAs) used in missions like NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover and CADRE lunar rovers.
Key responsibilities include:
- Planning and executing builds, integration, and testing of robotics systems and electromechanical assemblies
- Reviewing fabrication and assembly documentation to improve manufacturability, reduce risk, and optimize cost
- Developing manufacturing plans, concepts of operations, and build strategies for robotic mechanisms
- Designing and driving production tooling, fixtures, handling equipment, and test setups
- Developing build methods to increase throughput and reduce errors
- Supporting integration and production teams with assembly, inspection, and test procedures
- Documenting lessons learned and communicating findings across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and production teams
- Creating and maintaining work instructions, travelers, test procedures, and visual aids
- Overseeing production documentation for traceability and quality compliance
- Owning build procedures and translating non-conformances into process improvements
- Designing tools and hardware for robotics processing, assembly, and testing
- Supporting development and continuous improvement of production areas and manufacturing processes
You will work closely with design engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and skilled technicians to translate designs into efficient, repeatable, and well-documented manufacturing processes. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on problem solving, rapid iteration, and building processes that enable complex hardware to move from prototype through production.
