{"id":639616,"url":"https://alion.io/job/rocketlab-senior-production-engineer-i","title":"Senior Production Engineer I","company":{"id":684473,"name":"Rocket Lab","domain":"rocketlab.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/rocketlab-2","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":77,"open_postings":76,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.921,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":37,"computed_at":"2026-09-28T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"DevOps","role_family":"DevOps","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Albuquerque, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":124000,"max_usd":241000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":1020},"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"SQL","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-31T22:14:57Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-14","last_verified_at":"2026-09-28T06:28:49Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":27,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":27},"description":"ABOUT ROCKET LAB\nRocket 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.\nSPACE SYSTEMS\nAt 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.\nOur 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.\nSENIOR PRODUCTION ENGINEER I\nBased out of Rocket Lab's site in Albuquerque, NM as part of the SolAero Technologies acquisition, the Senior Production Engineer I is responsible for developing and maintaining processes for building advanced solar panels for space applications and ensuring they won’t fail on orbit. You will support the Panel Engineering Manager and the Production organization, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors. \nWHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO: \nFunction as the technical champion of our manufacturing processes, solving problems in real-time with the Operators and Technicians building spaceflight hardware \nBe the liaison between the technical/process parts of the business and the operations/execution arm on the production floor \nProactively remove hurdles from those executing manufacturing processes and maintain an environment where manufacturing operators and technicians can excel. \nDevelop a practical understanding of the design, construction, manufacturing methods and operating principles of series interconnected multi-junction solar cells. \nDevelop a practical understanding of the effects that external variables such as temperature, strain conditions, and the effects of a space environment can have on the materials used in the manufacture of solar panels. \nDevelop a detailed understanding of parallel gap resistance welding, mechanical fixturing for high throughput assembly, and additive manufacturing techniques. \nDevelop a practical working knowledge of the dispense and cure of space grade polymeric adhesives, the methods by which they can be mixed, degassed, and applied. An understanding should be built about the methods by which these materials cure and the factors that drive the effectiveness and rate of that cure. \nDevelop a working knowledge of the electrical circuits used in solar panels and the design constraints thereof \nCombine the understanding described above to support current manufacturing capability and work to monitor/improve/expand the existing processes by working with area engineers \nUse your background with PLCs and process automation to support an automated assembly line \nUse analysis tools such as Excel, JMP and presentation tools such as Word and PowerPoint to develop and present results of experiments that you may help execute to internal groups \nUse your experience writing technical documents to help develop a set of standard work instructions for new automated manufacturing processes \nEffectively train operators on the proper use of equipment, and support their work with proper guidance, expertise and help. Provide the daily support that these folks need to be successful. \nDevelop collaborative working relationships with operators, technicians, engineers, and managers. \nYOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:\nA Bachelor’s degree in a related technical field or sufficient equivalent experience. \n5+ years related experience supporting a manufacturing line in a technical role \nAttention to detail and previous demonstrated experience with writing technical instruction documents \nTHESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE: \nExperience working with PLC based systems or automated manufacturing tools \nExperience designing tooling and mechanical solutions to support a manufacturing line or process \nExperience with any programming or scripting is a plus, as is SQL experience \nExperience using Statistical Process Control (SPC) to understand whether a process is performing as intended \nExperience with parallel gap resistance welding, polymeric adhesives, wiring, or mechanical fixturing processes \nThis position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas. \nWHAT TO EXPECT \nWe’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. \nImportant information:\nFOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:\nTo 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.\nRocket 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.\nApplicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at . 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.\nFOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:\nFor 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. \nUnder 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 dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.","description_format":"text","description_chars":8040,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-10T20:00:17Z"}],"liveness":{"score":42,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.565,"p_room":0.75,"age_days":27,"expected_fill_days":37,"reasons":["conf:4","stale_co","velocity","win:late","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-09-28T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/rocketlab-senior-production-engineer-i","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/rocketlab-senior-production-engineer-i.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-09-28T06:46:56Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":4892,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":108,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-09-29T00:00:00Z"}}}