Manufacturing Engineering Intern - Composites

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. **ABOUT THE ROLE** We're looking for a motivated intern to join our Manufacturing Engineering team at our Warkworth Composites Complex. As a Manufacturing Engineering Intern - Composites, you'll be at the heart of the action, figuring out how to build the structural composites of the Neutron rocket. As a manufacturing engineer, you'll collaborate with development engineers to design efficient, high-quality parts and work closely with production teams to bring the rocket to life. Your role will focus on designing production tooling, developing process routings, and creating detailed work instructions for the fabrication of composite components, with the goal of improving process efficiency, repeatability, and quality. You'll take ownership of selected composite parts from concept through to production, designing the tooling needed to build them, defining how they'll be manufactured, and creating the instructions that enable our technicians to produce flight-quality hardware. This is a hands-on opportunity to see your work directly contribute to building rocket components that will fly to space. This is an opportunity to work on real operational challenges and contribute to missions that are literally reaching for the stars. **WHAT YOU WILL DO** **Tooling Design:** - Design production tooling (e.g., molds, jigs, fixtures) required for the layup, curing, trimming, and assembly of composite parts - Generate 2D/3D CAD models and detailed drawings for tooling fabrication - Collaborate with the tooling shop and suppliers to ensure manufacturability and timely delivery - Support tooling build activities and qualification testing - Document tooling specifications and usage requirements **Process Routing Development:** - Develop step-by-step process routings for composite parts, detailing all manufacturing operations from raw material preparation to final inspection - Define process parameters, equipment, and materials required at each stage - Create manufacturing bill of materials (BOM) for assigned parts - Incorporate best practices for safety, quality, and efficiency - Review and release process routings in collaboration with engineering and production teams **Work Instruction Creation:** - Create clear, concise, and visual work instructions for operators and technicians - Include photos, diagrams, and key process controls to ensure clarity - Ensure instructions comply with company standards and industry regulations - Test work instructions with production technicians and iterate based on feedback - Review and release finalized work instructions **Implementation & Qualification:** - Support production teams in building parts using your tooling, routings, and work instructions - Build parts alongside technicians to validate processes and identify improvement opportunities - Maintain full manufacturing records for qualification purposes - Collect feedback from operators and incorporate lessons learned - Document continuous improvement actions and recommendations **Documentation & Reporting:** - Create comprehensive project documentation including tooling designs, process routings, and work instructions - Prepare a final report detailing deliverables, lessons learned, and continuous improvement actions - Present project outcomes to stakeholders - Hand over all deliverables to support ongoing production **General Responsibilities:** - Take ownership for completion of tasks personally delivering results - Commit to and complete tasks within expected time frame, holding yourself accountable - Manage your own task list and execute allocated tasks to assigned deadlines - Communicate effectively with peers and stakeholders using appropriate mediums - Support specific tasks for other teammates when asked and appropriately trained - Ensure health and safety policies and standard operating procedures are followed **Key Deliverables:** - Tooling designed, built, and qualified for selected composite part(s) - Manufacturing bill of materials and routings developed, reviewed, and released - Work instructions developed, reviewed, and released - Part(s) built and qualified with full manufacturing records - Comprehensive report with lessons learned and continuous improvement actions **WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR** **MUST HAVE:**