Quality Engineer II

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 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.

As a Quality Engineer II based at our Optical Systems site in Tucson, AZ, you will support the development and production of advanced optical payloads and systems for space and ISR missions. In this role, you will work closely with Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, and Program teams to ensure products meet customer, regulatory, and internal quality requirements throughout the product lifecycle.

Join a driven team of pioneers relentlessly tackling challenging projects, delivering on the impossible, and making an impact on the future of space!

Rocket Lab’s Optical Systems division solves mission‑critical space domain and ISR challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space‑based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro‑optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.

• Develop and execute inspection methods to verify product quality and workmanship
• Ensure products comply with internal procedures, customer requirements, and industry standards such as AS9100
• Investigate products and process nonconformances and lead root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Generate, manage, and close Nonconformance Reports (NCRs), Corrective Action Reports, and support MRB/FRB activities
• Provide quality training and guidance to production and engineering teams on workmanship standards, procedures, ESD, and FOD
• Coordinate and document calibration activities and maintain metrology controls
• Support and maintain compliance with ESD and FOD programs across production and integration areas
• Perform inspections, review inspection data, and document results and findings
• Collect, analyze, and trend quality data using digital tools such as Power Apps and Power BI to support data‑driven decision making
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports to monitor quality metrics, nonconformance trends, corrective action effectiveness, and process performance
• Participate in internal, customer, and third‑party quality audits as required
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and repeatability of processes
• The Quality Engineer will support, analyze, and report on quality performance using data‑driven metrics
• Travel as required to support test campaigns, supplier activities, audits, source inspections, and program milestones
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of quality, compliance, and program execution

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related discipline
• 2+ years of experience in Quality Engineering or Quality Assurance within a manufacturing environment
• Experience working within a Quality Management System; AS9100 experience strongly preferred
• Strong working knowledge of NCRs, CAPA, MRB/FRB, ESD, and FOD controls
• Experience with inspection and test activities, metrology, and calibration systems
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, including GD&T
• Experience analyzing quality data and presenting metrics using tools such as Power BI, Power Apps, Excel, or similar data visualization platforms
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and root cause analysis skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, production, supply chain, and program teams
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance

• Experience supporting spaceflight hardware or…