Mechanical Engineer II

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, 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. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

Based onsite at Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, California, the Mechanical Engineer II will develop mechanical and electromechanical hardware for space robotics, precision mechanisms, tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment. The role supports hardware through concept development, detailed design, analysis, drawing release, procurement, assembly, integration, environmental test, qualification, and delivery. The ideal candidate is a practical, hands-on mechanical engineer with strong CAD fundamentals, sound engineering judgment, and an interest in developing reliable, manufacturable hardware for demanding spaceflight environments.

• Develop precision mechanisms, robotic systems, electromechanical assemblies, tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment for spaceflight and ground applications.
• Translate program, system, production, and test needs into practical mechanical architectures, interfaces, packaging concepts, and verification approaches.
• Develop mechanical hardware through concept development, trade studies, detailed design, analysis, drawing release, procurement, assembly, integration, environmental test, qualification, and delivery.
• Design space mechanisms and motion systems including actuators, gimbals, gear trains, harmonic drives, bearings, motors, rotary sensors, springs, launch locks, release devices, and kinematic or pseudo-kinematic interfaces.
• Create and maintain product definition in Solid Works, including 3D CAD models, production drawings, interface details, bills of material, assembly documentation, test procedures, and supporting design analyses.
• Apply GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, material and process selection, first-principles calculations, and finite element analysis to make sound design decisions.
• Design hardware for stiffness, strength, thermal environments, vibration and shock, tolerance control, manufacturability, inspectability, assembly, integration, and test.
• Work closely with electrical, software, systems, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and test teams to evaluate alternatives and deliver practical, build-ready solutions.
• Support hardware assembly, integration, troubleshooting, inspection, environmental testing, qualification testing, fixture development, and review of test data.
• Coordinate with machine shops and suppliers to resolve fabrication questions, evaluate manufacturing approaches, and support timely hardware delivery.
• Document technical decisions, design analyses, test results, risks, and verification evidence in support of program milestones and design reviews.

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechatronics, robotics, or another related engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience designing mechanical hardware, mechanisms, aerospace hardware, robotic systems, or electromechanical assemblies.
• Experience with Solid Works or a comparable CAD platform, including 3D modeling and production drawing creation.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, material selection, manufacturing processes, and mechanical design documentation.
• Ability to use engineering fundamentals, hand calculations, and analysis tools to support design decisions.
• Hands-on experience supporting hardware build, integration, troubleshooting, inspection, or testing.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and test teams.

• Experience developing spacecraft mechanisms, robotic manipulators, precision motion systems, actuators, gimbals, deployment systems, or similar…