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 f…
Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Process engineering, Feasibility studies, Design for manufacture, Factory optimization
Senior Manufacturing Engineer I/II – Assembly, Integration and Test
Long Beach, California, United States · On-site
$115k–$170k/yr
Senior$9.1B raised
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 f…
Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Assembly, Integration, Test engineering, CAD
Senior Manufacturing Engineer I – Assembly, Integration and Test
Long Beach, California, United States · On-site
$115k–$170k/yr
Senior$9.1B raised
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 f…
Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Assembly, Integration, Test engineering, CAD
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 f…
Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Avionics, Electro-mechanical systems, Debugging, Process optimization
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 f…
Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Avionics, Electro-mechanical systems, Process optimization, Design for manufacturability
Senior Manufacturing Engineer I - Assembly & Integration
Long Beach, California, United States · On-site
$115k–$155k/yr
Senior$9.1B raised
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 f…
Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Process engineering, Feasibility studies, Design for manufacturability, Root cause analysis
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 f…
Skills: Avionics, Electro-mechanical systems, Manufacturing engineering, Process optimization, Debugging
Manufacturing Engineer II - Assembly & Integration
Long Beach, California, United States · On-site
$100k–$125k/yr
Mid level$9.1B raised
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 f…
Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Process engineering, Feasibility studies, Design for manufacturability, Root cause analysis
Manufacturing Engineer II - Assembly & Integration
Long Beach, California, United States · On-site
$100k–$125k/yr
Mid level$9.1B raised
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 f…
Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Process engineering, Feasibility studies, Design for manufacture, Root cause analysis
Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to ensure a continuous huma…
About Us Hydrafacial is a global category-creating company focused on bringing innovative products to market and delivering beauty health experiences by reinventing our consumer’s relationship with their skin, their bodi…
Skills: Technical support, Troubleshooting, RMA coordination, Customer service, Microsoft Excel
About Us Hydrafacial is a global category-creating company focused on bringing innovative products to market and delivering beauty health experiences by reinventing our consumer’s relationship with their skin, their bodi…
Skills: Assembly, Hand tools, Power tools, Soldering, Blueprint reading
About Us Hydrafacial is a global category-creating company focused on bringing innovative products to market and delivering beauty health experiences by reinventing our consumer’s relationship with their skin, their bodi…
About Us Hydrafacial is a global category-creating company focused on bringing innovative products to market and delivering beauty health experiences by reinventing our consumer’s relationship with their skin, their bodi…
Skills: Assembly, Hand tools, Power tools, Wire strippers, Crimpers
About Us Hydrafacial is a global category-creating company focused on bringing innovative products to market and delivering beauty health experiences by reinventing our consumer’s relationship with their skin, their bodi…
Skills: Warehouse operations, Order fulfillment, Picking, Packing, Shipping
About Odys Our mission at Odys is simple - we build safe, sustainable aircraft to cut travel time in half on the world's busiest corridors. Our flagship aircraft Alta enables travelers to skip the big-airport hassle by u…
About Us Hydrafacial is a global category-creating company focused on bringing innovative products to market and delivering beauty health experiences by reinventing our consumer’s relationship with their skin, their bodi…
Skills: Assembly, Hand tools, Power tools, Soldering, Quality control
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 f…
At Relativity Space, we’re building rockets to serve today’s needs and tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Our Terran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit, meeting the growing demand for launch capacity. But that’s ju…
Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Design for manufacturing, Primary structures, Assembly builds, Process improvement
At Relativity Space, we’re building rockets to serve today’s needs and tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Our Terran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit, meeting the growing demand for launch capacity. But that’s ju…
Skills: Manufacturing engineering, Design for manufacturing, Primary structures, Assembly builds, Process improvement
The Lead Manufacturing Engineer will oversee factory setup, optimize production processes, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. They will collaborate with design teams to ensure manufacturability and provide technical leadership to resolve complex production issues.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline and possess at least 5 years of experience in manufacturing or process engineering. Strong problem-solving skills, leadership experience, and the ability to manage complex technical projects are required.
Full job description
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.
MANUFACTURING
Manufacturing Engineering powers Rocket Lab’s factories from concept to full-scale production. We turn early ideas into manufacturable designs, build and optimize the systems that make them real, and constantly push for faster, better, smarter ways to build. We engineer the factories that build the rockets, boosting quality, cutting cost, and accelerating build rate.
LEAD MANUFACTURING ENGINEER - SPACE SYSTEMS
This role focuses on improving manufacturing processes through feasibility studies, supporting product design for manufacturability, and leading factory setup and optimization. It involves troubleshooting production issues, collaborating with cross-functional teams, driving process improvements, and supporting organizational efficiency through change management and business system enhancements, while also taking on leadership responsibilities to guide teams and initiatives.
WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:
Prepare feasibility studies and conduct manufacturing technology Research & Development projects
Partner with our Design Engineering teams to incorporate Design for Manufacture into our products to ensure robustness and manufacturability at scale
Engineer and deliver our factories – design, procure, install, validate assembly, test and verification processes
Support Development builds to uncover early learnings and resolve issues to accelerate the production ramp up
Take engineering ownership of production lines to remove blockers, improve yield and increase build efficiency
Triage and diagnose failures, conduct deep technical investigations and determine the right path forward including risk mitigation actions and root cause resolution
Collaborate with cross functional teams to resolve complex issues
Drive process improvements across manufacturing, test and integration
Contribute to change management, assessing risk and impact of design or process changes
Support business system and process improvements to drive increased organizational effectiveness and efficiency
YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or similar
5+ years of technical experience in a Manufacturing, Production, or Process Engineering environment
Hands-on experience proactively identifying and solving systemic multifaceted problems in complex manufacturing systems
Ability to effectively deliver multiple complex multifaceted assignments simultaneously with autonomy
Ability to effectively coach and mentor others to raise the bar across multiple teams
Detailed technical knowledge in complex manufacturing processes
Personnel leadership experience
Capital and facilities justification, project management and implementation
Perform periodic reviews with direct employees
Interview and hire candidates to fill new roles
Create team goals and metrics to drive continuous improvement projects
THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:
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
This 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.
Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.
Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.
Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.
Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Total Compensation (base and equity)
$144,000—$206,000 USD
Base Salary
$124,000—$170,000 USD
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 [email protected].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 dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.
Related keywords
Manufacturing EngineeringSpace SystemsDesign for ManufactureDFMEAPFMEAFault Tree AnalysisPareto AnalysisRoot Cause AnalysisProduction LineInstrumentationSensorsOscilloscopesThermal TestingVibration TestingVacuum TestingITAR
Rocket Lab builds, launches, and operates rockets and spacecraft for our global customers. Our Electron launch vehicle is the world’s most frequently launched orbital small rocket, our HASTE rocket is progressing America’s hypersonic capabilities on suborbital missions, and our larger Neutron rocket is currently in development. From across the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures individual spacecraft components to entire satellites constellations for missions to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Offices: 3881 McGowen St, Long Beach, California 90808, US · 25 Levene Pl, Auckland, 1060, NZ · 7815 Shaffer Pkwy, Littleton, Colorado 80127, US · 20 Maud St, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2M5, CA · 10420 Research Rd SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, US
How much do Manufacturing jobs in Long Beach, CA pay?
Based on 693 listings with disclosed salaries, most manufacturing jobs in Long Beach, CA pay between $50k–$215k per year. Individual offers vary with seniority, company size, and specialization.
How many Manufacturing jobs are open in Long Beach, CA right now?
There are currently 781 open manufacturing positions in Long Beach, CA listed on Clera. New openings are added daily as companies post roles.
Which companies are hiring for Manufacturing roles in Long Beach, CA?
Companies currently hiring include Relativity Space, Rocket Lab, Vast, Ford Motor Company, True Anomaly, among others. Browse the listings above to see every active employer.
Are there remote or hybrid Manufacturing jobs in Long Beach, CA?
Yes — 113 of the 781 open manufacturing positions offer remote or hybrid work (3 remote, 110 hybrid).
How do I apply for Manufacturing jobs in Long Beach, CA?
Each listing links directly to the employer's application page. Apply early — fresh listings get the most recruiter attention in the first two weeks.