Senior Composites Engineer

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end‑to‑end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build, and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered than 230 satellites to orbit, while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium‑lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. The Space Systems team designs and builds an extensive line of satellites, payloads, and components, including spacecraft selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

We have enabled more than 1,700 missions across interplanetary exploration, in‑space manufacturing, and national security and defense initiatives, partnering with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

Based at Rocket Lab's site in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Senior Composites Engineers facilitate and optimize production of solar products and sub‑systems for a high‑growth, high‑consequence production environment, ensuring best‑practice manufacturing principles are employed to meet stringent deadlines. Join a driven team of pioneers relentlessly tackling challenging projects, delivering on the impossible, and making an impact on the future of space.

• Work on ground‑breaking products and processes, introducing innovative manufacturing equipment and processes to the production floor. Touch a satellite going to space!
• Take ownership of spacecraft composite production lines.
• Support the build of spacecraft composite structures in a hands‑on capacity.
• Apply continuous improvement and lean manufacturing techniques.
• Manage project timelines.
• Understand technical and program risks.
• Lead non‑conformance and root‑cause analysis investigations.
• Create technical documentation.
• Advise on design improvements for components, subsystems, procedures, equipment and tooling.
• Work within a rapidly growing Space Systems team.
• Collaborate with highly motivated, enthusiastic professionals in a fun and supportive environment, with opportunities for growth.
• Enterprise experience within a regulated manufacturing industry is advantageous.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience within a composites manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of composite materials, manufacturing processes, testing techniques, and design techniques, including prepreg layup, machining, and structural assembly bonding.
• Proven ability to deliver KPIs on schedule with little to no supervision, either individually or as part of an integrated team.

• Can‑do approach and flexibility to thrive around growing teams and processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven risk assessment and risk‑based decision‑making skills.
• Experience with destructive and non‑destructive testing of composite materials and sub‑assemblies.
• Experience with environmental acceptance/production acceptance testing such as vibration, shock, thermal, and vacuum.
• Knowledge of composite related material properties including resin systems, structural bonding adhesives, and sandwich structures.
• Experience with composite structure repair techniques and processes.
• Experience in manufacturing and assembly of composite structures into larger assemblies.
• Knowledge of production quality metrics.
• Experience with ERP/PLM Systems – Siemens Team Center/Infor LN.
• Experience in configuration control and configuration management in production systems.
• Experience with DFMEA, PFMEA methodologies, fault tree analysis, Pareto analysis, root cause and corrective actions.
• Proven ability to deliver new product implementation activities…