Lead, Avionics Manufacturing Engineer

Lead, Avionics Manufacturing Engineer

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.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Lead Manufacturing Engineer - Avionics

Based out of Rocket Lab's Headquarters in Long Beach, CA the Lead Manufacturing Engineer - Avionics is responsible for process development, implementation and sustainment of Avionics Components and Assemblies used across all programs. You will support the Manufacturing Engineering Manager for Avionics and Space Systems, Production, and Design organizations, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

What You'll Get To Do:

• Coach, mentor and develop engineers to achieve new heights in their careers.
• Perform weekly, quarterly and yearly reviews with their direct employees
• Interview and hire candidates to fill new roles
• Create team goals and metrics to drive continuous improvement projects
• Lead/organize meetings as necessary to drive project completion
• Contribute to design reviews acting as an expert in design for manufacture, design for test, productivity, supplier capability assessments, quality control, etc.
• Oversee introduction and implementation of new products and product revisions
• Perform initial Value Stream Mapping Exercises, Method of Manufacture plans, cell design, etc.
• Define and implement Factory layouts, Equipment selection, FAT, SAT, and production commissioning
• Capital and facilities justification, project management and implementation
• Lead problem containment and structured root cause & corrective action investigations
• Lead the continuous improvement process in your area using lean tools and techniques such as 5S

You'll Bring These Qualifications:

• Bachelor Degree in Engineering (Preferably Electrical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or Mechanical)
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Personnel leadership experience
• Strong working knowledge of EEE piece parts, PCB, PCBA, electromechanical assembly, tooling, test, and quality techniques
• Extensive experience using fundamentals of electronic circuits, design principles, and manufacturing techniques to solve component issues in a fast-paced environment

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have:

• Advanced engineering degree (Preferably Electrical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or Mechanical)
• 8+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Working experience with environmental acceptance/production acceptance testing, such as vibration, shock, thermal, and vacuum
• Understanding of instrumentation, interfaces, and sensors including power supplies, oscilloscopes, serial devices, switch topologies, accelerometers, thermocouples, RTDs, and 4-20mA sensors
• Experience with designing, implementing, and supporting a production line and/or build area
• Experience transitioning products from design to production as a part of cross-functional team in a fast-paced, iterative design environment
• Demonstrated experience with DFMEA, PFMEA methodologies, Fault Tree Analysis, Pareto analysis, root cause and corrective action

Additional Requirements:

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing.
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes and moderate levels of noise.
• Availability to work long hours and weekends as needed based on test and launch schedules