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Salary: USD 115,200 - 158,400 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer I to lead mechanical design and mechanism development efforts for space robotics, precision mechanisms, electromechanical assemblies, tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment at their Pasadena, California facility (Rocket Lab Robotics).
In this role, you will serve as a hands-on technical leader responsible for translating program, production, and test needs into practical mechanical architectures. You will drive approved designs through the complete lifecycle: analysis, review, procurement, assembly, integration, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading assigned mechanical and mechanism development efforts, defining scope, requirements, schedules, technical risks, project milestones, and verification plans
- Serving as the responsible engineer for complex components or subsystems, owning technical execution from design through delivery
- Leading trade studies and technical decisions involving mechanical architecture, packaging, interfaces, tolerance strategy, materials, fabrication approach, assembly flow, inspection planning, and design risk
- Conducting design, manufacturing, and test reviews with cross-functional stakeholders (engineering, production, quality, supply chain, test); documenting and driving action closure
- Managing technical schedules, vendors, budgets, build priorities, and risk-mitigation activities to meet program commitments
- Mentoring less-experienced engineers and contributing to mechanical design standards, best practices, design-for-manufacture improvements, and lessons learned
- Developing precision mechanisms, robotic systems, electromechanical assemblies, tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment for spaceflight and ground applications
- Designing space mechanisms and motion systems including actuators, gimbals, gear trains, harmonic drives, bearings, motors, rotary sensors, springs, launch locks, release devices, and kinematic interfaces
- Creating and maintaining product definition in SolidWorks, including 3D CAD models, production drawings, interface details, bills of material, assembly documentation, test procedures, and supporting design analyses
- Applying GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, material and process selection, first-principles calculations, and finite element analysis to guide design decisions
- Designing hardware for stiffness, strength, thermal environments, vibration and shock, tolerance control, manufacturability, inspectability, assembly, integration, and test
- Working closely with electrical, software, systems, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and test teams to evaluate alternatives and deliver practical, build-ready solutions
- Supporting hardware assembly, integration, troubleshooting, inspection, environmental testing, qualification testing, fixture development, and review of test data
- Coordinating with machine shops and suppliers to resolve fabrication questions, evaluate manufacturing approaches, and support timely hardware delivery
- Documenting technical decisions, design analyses, test results, risks, and verification evidence in support of program milestones and design reviews
Rocket Lab's Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration and in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechatronics, robotics, or another related engineering discipline
- 5+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience, including significant aerospace, spaceflight, robotics, or other high-reliability hardware development experience
- 3+ years serving as a responsible engineer or technical lead for mechanical component or subsystem development
- Proven experience delivering hardware from concept through detailed design, procurement, build, integration, environmental test, qualification, and delivery
- Deep experience designing precision mechanisms, robotic systems, aerospace hardware, or electromechanical assemblies
- Strong SolidWorks experience, including complex CAD modeling, production drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, bills of material, and mechanical design documentation
- Experience using first-principles calculations, tolerance analysis, FEA, inspection data, and test results to guide design decisions
- Strong knowledge of aerospace materials, fabrication processes, mechanical interfaces, environmental requirements, verification methods, and design-for-manufacture principles
- Hands-on experience supporting assembly, integration, troubleshooting, inspection, environmental testing, qualification, and design iteration
- Experience leading technical reviews, coordinating cross-functional teams, communicating status and risks, and mentoring other engineers
NICE-TO-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechatronics, robotics, or another related engineering discipline
- Direct experience with robotic manipulators, in-space servicing, planetary robotics, precision spacecraft mechanisms, or satellite deployment systems
- Experience designing motorized mechanisms, actuators, gimbals, gear trains, harmonic drives, bearings, rotary sensors, launch locks, release devices, or kinematic interfaces
- Experience with structural, vibration, thermal, or thermal-elastic analysis and interpretation of environmental test data
- Experience with NASA, JPL, DoD, commercial space, or prime-contractor flight programs
- Experience with AS9100, configuration management, root-cause investigation, failure analysis, nonconformance disposition, or test-anomaly resolution
- Exceptional mechanical problem-solving, technical communication, and cross-functional leadership skills
Note: This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas. Candidates seeking to work in US offices must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or Commerce due to ITAR regulations.
