Senior Mechanical Development & Test Engineer I

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. SPACE SYSTEMS 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. SENIOR MECHANICAL TEST ENGINEER I Based out of Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Mechanical Development & Test Engineer I is responsible for the end-to-end design, build, test, and execution of complex internal test capabilities. This may include test setups for qualification and subsequent large-volume acceptance tests requiring high levels of automation. Hardware tests may include avionics boxes, complex mechanisms, and fully integrated spacecraft in stressing environments. WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO: Lead qualification test campaigns. Lead high-volume acceptance test infrastructure development and insertion into the production floor. Advise on in-house test capabilities, limits, and future needs. Manage test projects end-to-end, to include resourcing, scheduling, and budgeting as needed. Hands-on work with test infrastructure implementation and validation. Work closely with design and other test engineers to iterate through design concepts and determine test requirements. Design complex Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE) to support test implementation. QUALIFICATIONS YOU’LL BRING AS A SENIOR MECHANICAL TEST ENGINEER I: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline. 5+ years of engineering experience in the aerospace industry. Experience using NX Nastran, NX CAD, and Teamcenter packages. Experience in component and system-level environmental testing. Experience with test automation and post-test data analysis. THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE: Master’s or PhD in mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline. Experience with Confluence and…