# Senior Mechanical Development & Test Engineer II at Rocket Lab

> United States · Senior · QA / Test · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Arocketlab%3A8054447003 (read 2026-11-04).

## Facts (observed)

- Company: [Rocket Lab](https://alderhq.app/companies/rocket-lab)
- Location text: Long Beach, CA; RL Headquarters
- Where it can be done from (inferred): United States (evidence: "Location: Long Beach, CA; RL Headquarters")
- Posted: 2026-10-28 (6 days ago)
- First seen by alder: 2026-11-03 · last verified: 2026-11-04
- Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times
- Apply on the employer's site: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/rocketlab/jobs/8054447003
- Skills listed (inferred): Python

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: $142k–$236k per year (from the listing's pay field)
- Market band for similar posted roles (Los Angeles, n 38): p25 $146k, median $158k, p75 $171k

## Description (the employer's text)

### 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.

### SPACE SYSTEMS

At 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.

Our 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.

SENIOR MECHANICAL TEST ENGINEER I

Based out of Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Mechanical Development & Test Engineer II is responsible for the end-to-end design, build, test, and execution of complex internal test capabilities. This may include test setups for qualification and subsequent large-volume acceptance tests requiring high levels of automation. Hardware tests may include avionics boxes, complex mechanisms, and fully integrated spacecraft in stressing environments.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

- Lead qualification test campaigns.
- Lead high-volume acceptance test infrastructure development and insertion into the production floor.
- Advise on in-house test capabilities, limits, and future needs.
- Manage test projects end-to-end, to include resourcing, scheduling, and budgeting as needed.
- Hands-on work with test infrastructure implementation and validation.
- Work closely with design and other test engineers to iterate through design concepts and determine test requirements.
- Design complex Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE) to support test implementation.
QUALIFICATIONS YOU’LL BRING AS A SENIOR MECHANICAL TEST ENGINEER II:

- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline.
- 8 + years of engineering experience in the aerospace industry.
- Experience using NX Nastran, NX CAD, and Teamcenter packages.
- Experience in component and system-level environmental testing.
- Experience with test automation and post-test data analysis.
THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

- Master’s or PhD in mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline.
- Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
- Experience with Python for automation and data analysis.
- Experience leading teams of engineers and technicians.
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.

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.

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Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Arocketlab%3A8054447003 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.