Mechanical Engineer IINew

Rocket Lab
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The opportunity

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.

What you'll do

  • 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 SolidWorks, 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.

What they're looking for

  • 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.