{"id":639446,"url":"https://alion.io/job/rocketlab-technician-iii-materials-development-and-testing","title":"Technician - Materials Development and Testing (Neutron)","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":80,"open_postings":81,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.778,"repost_share":0.012,"time_to_fill_p50_days":39,"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"Field & Service","role_family":"Field & Service","seniority":"junior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Auckland, New Zealand"],"countries":["NZ"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":28000,"max_usd":57000,"period":"year","method":"global_role_cell_scaled_by_country","sample_n":9606},"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-15T23:00:28Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-08","last_verified_at":"2026-10-17T14:09:29Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":93,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":93},"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.\nNEUTRON \nNeutron is a medium lift launch vehicle capable of delivering the mega constellations of tomorrow, high assurance payloads, and human spaceflight. As a highly reusable launch platform, Neutron will deliver a highly cost-effective and reliable launch solution leveraging Rocket Lab’s proven execution history with the Electron program. If you’re interested in joining a high performing team, pushing the boundaries with a clean sheet development of re-usable liquid launch vehicle, this is your opportunity! \nABOUT TECHNICIANS AT ROCKET LAB \nEvery rocket we launch depends on materials that won't fail. As a technician working on Materials Development and Testing for Neutron, you'll push metals and composites to their limits, testing the samples that prove our rockets are ready for space. \nSpace tests everything. You test it first. \nWHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO: \nPrepare test specimens- cut, machine, and prepare composite and metallic specimens to be tested to international standards (ASTM D3039, E8, and similar) using diamond saws, CNC mills, and surface prep equipment \nBuild test articles- from composites, metallics, textiles, and insulation assemblies for mechanical and thermal testing \nFit instrumentation - apply strain gauges, extensometers, thermocouples, and RTDs to samples\nBond specimens & assemble fixtures- attach end tabs and metal fixtures (lap shear, fracture toughness) using the right adhesives and curing procedures\nCondition specimens- in environmental chambers per test requirements\nTest & Characterize Materials - execute a variety of mechanical, thermal, and environmental tests using commercial and development equipment \nDocument everything- specimen geometry, fibre orientation, batch numbers, and processing, keeping full traceability throughout\nSupport development- collaborate with development engineers to design and implement tailored test methodologies for non-standard characterization \nYOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS: \nAn associate degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a related field OR a high school qualification with 3+ years of relevant technical experience\n2+ years of experience in a materials testing laboratory or related function\nHands-on experience preparing and testing composite materials\nProficient in operating universal testing machines, data acquisition systems, and precision measurement tools\nUnderstanding of ASTM test standards (D3039, D3410, D790, E8, etc.)\nKnowledge of composite material structures and failure modes\nFamiliarity with post processing of test data in Python, Matlab, or equivalent software\nDemonstrated experience supporting test campaigns for design, manufacturing, or development stakeholders \nTHESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE: \nAerospace or defense industry experience \nBachelor’s degree in engineering or Materials Science\nFamiliarity with ASTM standards (D3039, D3410, D790, E8) or MIL-HDBK-17\nFamiliarity with MIL-Handbook 17 Vol 1 Polymer Matrix Composites Guidelines for Characterization of Structural Materials\nExperience with advanced composites - carbon fibre, aramid, or prepreg systems\nAS9100, ISO 17025, or Nadcap Materials Testing certification\nStatistical process control (SPC) training\nData analysis in Python, Matlab, or similar\nAdhesive bonding certification\nExperience coordinating 3rd party test activities \nIf the above sounds like you apply now! \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":6670,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"associate","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Launch Services","Satellite Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-10T20:00:17Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":6,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.227,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":93,"expected_fill_days":39,"reasons":["conf:1","stale_co","velocity","win:tail","crowd:junior,brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/rocketlab-technician-iii-materials-development-and-testing","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/rocketlab-technician-iii-materials-development-and-testing.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-17T14:45:16Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":19874,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-18T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":684473},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=684473"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Frocketlab-technician-iii-materials-development-and-testing"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Frocketlab-technician-iii-materials-development-and-testing"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Frocketlab-technician-iii-materials-development-and-testing"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/rocketlab-technician-iii-materials-development-and-testing\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Frocketlab-technician-iii-materials-development-and-testing"}]}