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Salary: USD 108,800 - 149,000 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking an experienced Senior Weld Engineer to join the Materials & Processes Department at the Engine Development Center in Long Beach, CA. This role is central to the development and production of welding processes for the Archimedes Engine, which powers Neutron—Rocket Lab's medium-lift, highly reusable launch vehicle designed for mega constellations, high-assurance payloads, and human spaceflight.
You will serve as the primary technical point of contact for all welding-related production issues, working closely with Manufacturing Engineering teams to resolve challenges in a fast-paced, high-performance environment. Your responsibilities will include:
• Developing and implementing welding procedures and process improvements for Archimedes Engine production
• Authoring welding process specifications and Procedure Qualification Records (PQRs) for each welding process
• Defining welding acceptance criteria in accordance with AWS D17.1 and NASA standards
• Conducting root cause analyses on weld-related nonconformances and driving continuous improvement
• Providing expert guidance on weld repair, rework, and dispositioning decisions
• Supporting production operations on full-scale welded assemblies, directing manufacturing engineers and welders on correct techniques
• Collaborating with design, tooling, and manufacturing teams to optimize welded designs for manufacturability
• Developing and executing welding qualification test campaigns, interpreting mechanical testing and NDE results
• Supporting Materials & Processes related projects
Rocket Lab is a rapidly growing space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. The company moves fast, builds real hardware for meaningful missions, and operates with a culture of relentless innovation, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to achieving ambitious goals.
QUALIFICATIONS (Required):
• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Welding, Mechanical Engineering, or relevant STEM field
• 5+ years of experience in weld engineering working with TIG, Laser, MIG, or EBEAM for aerospace applications
• Hands-on fabrication, manufacturing, or testing experience with welded assemblies
• Working experience with Laser Welding, GTAW, GMAW, and Orbital GTAW welding processes across a variety of materials
• Working knowledge of carbon steel, stainless steel, and nickel-based metallurgy
QUALIFICATIONS (Nice to Have):
• Strong knowledge of metallurgy fundamentals, material specifications, and heat-treatment requirements
• CAD/modeling experience with SOLIDWORKS or NX
• Experience with X-ray quality structural welding, seal welding, and hard-facing overlays
• Familiarity with copper and nickel-based alloys
• Tooling design experience for welded assemblies to reduce distortion and improve consistency
• Understanding of weld strength testing methodologies, standards, and data acquisition systems (ASTM E8, E399, E740, ISO 15653, AWS D17.X, AWS C7.X, thermocouples, strain gauges)
• Experience with root cause analysis and corrective actions including optical and SEM fractography/metallography, hardness testing, chemical analysis, and mechanical testing
• In-depth knowledge of AWS D17.1 and related industry welding codes/standards
Note: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations (ITAR), candidates must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or Commerce.
