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.
ELECTRON
Rocket Lab’s Electron team is responsible for building, testing, and launching our Electron rocket across our launch sites and test facilities in the United States and New Zealand. Electron is one of the world’s most frequently-launched rockets, and our team behind its success are diligent, move fast, and have each others’ back to deliver a reliable rocket to the launch pad time and time again.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
In this hands-on leadership role, you will be responsible for supervising and managing up to 20 production technicians while overseeing quality, delivery, and costs within the production environment. This is a key role that requires strong leadership, technical expertise, and a commitment to operational excellence and safety.
WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:
• Lead and supervise up to 20 technicians to meet quality standards and production schedules
• Take full responsibility for health and safety within your area and ensure all procedures are followed
• Assign workflow and delegate daily tasks effectively to optimize production efficiency
• Maintain quality standards for all work in your designated functional area
• Manage the team's skills matrix and ensure required training and certifications are completed
• Conduct root-cause-analysis and implement production-related corrective action plans
• Authorise the release of flight components to the next workstation in accordance with procedures
• Report on daily team metrics and outputs to drive performance and continuous improvement
• Support R&D activities and assist with pre-production manufacturing processes
• Provide immediate performance feedback and develop leadership capabilities in direct reports
YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
• High School diploma, NCEA level 2 (at least 60 credits) or equivalent
• Minimum 5 years of relevant industry experience
• 3 years of quality assurance inspection in aviation/aerospace manufacturing
• Proven ability to manage resources to meet expected production rate increases
• Demonstrated capability in aligning capacity to production forecasts
• Proven ability to develop leadership skills in direct reports
THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:
• High level of responsibility and accountability towards team performance
• Demonstrated ability to improve processes and increase efficiency
• Exceptional attention to detail with ability to produce work to high accuracy standards
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to read, understand, and follow manufacturing instructions and drawings
• Capable of working effectively both in a team environment and autonomously
• Strong role model for safety culture
NOTE: This role is for our Evening Shift pattern: Mon - Thurs 15:00 - 01:30
If the above sounds like you apply now!
WHAT TO EXPECT
We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.
Important information:
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.
Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:
For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dua