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Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Supplier Development Engineer – Electrical to lead end-to-end industrialization of the electrical supply base from source selection through production ramp. This hands-on, supplier-facing role owns a broad portfolio of electrical hardware including PCBAs, wire harnesses, connectors, sensors, power systems, and electro-mechanical assemblies.
Key responsibilities include leading supplier qualification and APQP processes, conducting Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews with design engineering, managing PPAP submissions and First Article Inspection activities, and driving continuous improvement across suppliers using lean and statistical quality tools. You will partner with procurement and engineering to identify and evaluate suppliers based on process capability, quality systems, and capacity. The role requires deep commodity knowledge across electrical domains and operates at the intersection of design, manufacturing, procurement, and quality.
You will own supplier improvement plans, drive root cause and corrective action for quality issues, apply SPC and Cpk trending to eliminate recurring defects, and ensure every supplier delivers conforming hardware at rate, on cost, and on schedule. This is a critical technical leadership position within Rocket Lab's supply chain organization, directly impacting the success of rocket and satellite programs.
For Senior Supplier Development Engineer I: minimum 5 years in regulated industry (aerospace, medical, automotive, industrial) with Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline. Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, and statistical process capability required. Ability to read engineering drawings, schematics, and PCB layouts essential.
For Senior Supplier Development Engineer II: minimum 8 years in regulated industry with demonstrated leadership of complex supplier networks and advanced technical expertise.
