Job brief: Senior Mechanical Engineer II

What JoRoute checked · Checked by JoRoute

• Listed on Rocket Lab's own job board. JoRoute does not take listings from job ads or recruiters.
• First seen by JoRoute 2026-11-04 (3 days ago); last confirmed on the board 2026-11-07.
• The apply link opens job-boards.greenhouse.io, the address Rocket Lab's board gives for this job.
• The same title for the same place was listed 1 other time on this board in the last 90 days: several openings, or a re-posted job.
• No layoff notices (WARN) under this name in the state files JoRoute reads.

What the listing says · Employer's own words, not checked

• Pay: $164,500 to $233,275 a year
• Job type: Not stated
• Where: Pasadena, CA · Motiv
• Posted: 2026-10-02

What the job asks · Employer's own words, not checked

Level: Senior. The title says "Senior".

Must have

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechatronics, robotics, or another related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience, including significant aerospace, spaceflight, robotics, or other high-reliability hardware development experience.
• 3+ years serving as a responsible engineer or technical lead for mechanical component or subsystem development.
• Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechatronics, robotics, or another related engineering discipline.
• Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S.
• as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S.

Main duties

• Lead assigned mechanical and mechanism development efforts, including definition of scope, requirements, schedules, technical risks, project milestones, and …
• Serve as responsible engineer for complex components or subsystems and own technical execution through design, procurement, build, test, qualification, and d…
• Lead trade studies and technical decisions involving mechanical architecture, packaging, interfaces, tolerance strategy, materials, fabrication approach, ass…
• Lead design, manufacturing, and test reviews with engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and test stakeholders;
• Manage technical schedules, vendors, budgets, build priorities, and risk-mitigation activities needed to meet program commitments.

Lines copied from the posting, not rewritten. "Preferred" or "nice to have" items are not listed as must-haves.

How it compares · Compared by JoRoute from listings

• Typical listed pay for mechanic and technician jobs in California: $74k a year (323 listings, 40 employers). This listing is 169% higher.
• Across Rocket Lab's 452 open listings, 24% of those with a posting date were first posted more than 60 days ago. How Rocket Lab hires

What nobody outside the employer knows · Not known

• Whether the role is already filled or on hold: employers often leave listings up.
• How many people applied, and who reads the applications.
• Where in the published range an offer would land.

Ask before you apply

1. How many people are you hiring for this role, and is it a new opening or a re-posted one?
2. Which of the listed places is this role based in?
3. What are the interview steps, and when should I expect to hear back?

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Next steps

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• 166 more mechanic and technician jobs within 25 miles, on the job map with pay.
• All 452 open Rocket Lab jobs, and how Rocket Lab hires.
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