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.
SUPPLY CHAIN
Rocket Lab’s Supply Chain team orchestrates the seamless flow of materials, products, and components across the entire organization. As many of our products serve as mission-critical elements for both Rocket Lab and our customers, the Supply Chain team plays a pivotal role in the success of our rocket and satellite programs. From assembling kits that empower our technicians to build rockets, satellites, and space systems, to managing inventory, procurement, shipping, and receiving, the team ensures operational excellence at every stage. They also oversee rigorous inspection processes to guarantee that all materials and products meet our stringent quality and compliance standards. Serving as the vital link between departments, the Supply Chain team is essential to driving Rocket Lab’s mission and enabling our continued success.
SOURCING SPECIALIST II - RAW MATERIALS
Based onsite at Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Sourcing Specialist plays a critical role in shaping the supply chain strategy that powers our mission to redefine space access. As a key member of the procurement team, you will be responsible for sourcing and securing the raw materials essential to the development and production of our launch vehicles, satellite systems, and advanced aerospace components. Your decisions will directly impact Rocket Lab’s ability to achieve its cost, quality, and delivery objectives, supporting both rapid R&D cycles and scalable production. This role will focus on all raw material procurement—including, but not limited to, metallics, composites, and powders—across all Rocket Lab programs.
WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:
- Develop and execute a comprehensive raw material sourcing strategy to support global operations, encompassing production, R&D, and testing requirements.
- Lead end-to-end supplier engagement activities including RFIs, RFPs, supplier selection, contract negotiations, and onboarding, ensuring alignment with Rocket Lab’s strategic objectives.
- Analyze spend, market dynamics, and supplier capabilities to identify opportunities for cost optimization, risk mitigation, and supply chain innovation—including the development of reuse and recycling processes.
- Drive total cost of ownership (TCO) improvements through supplier consolidation, standardization, and the cultivation of strategic partnerships.
- Own the sourcing process by rigorously evaluating vendor capabilities, pricing, delivery performance, and alignment with Rocket Lab’s quality standards.
- Ensure on-time delivery of critical materials to meet program schedules and production milestones.
- Manage and strengthen supplier relationships, serving as the primary business interface for assigned vendors.
- Lead the RFQ process to secure competitive bids and ensure best-value procurement for goods and services.
- Collaborate closely with Engineering teams to anticipate and fulfill procurement requirements, acting as the primary point of contact for R&D order status and material needs.
- Provide proactive updates to material planners regarding purchase order status and expected delivery timelines.
- Negotiate commercial terms with suppliers to achieve optimal outcomes in quality, cost, and delivery.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date purchase order data within Rocket Lab’s ERP system, ensuring data integrity and operational transparency.
YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Management, or other relevant fields
- 2+ years of related experience as Buyer, Manufacturing Engineer, or equivalent
- Proven ability to source, onboard, and negotiate pricing with suppliers
- Proven knowledge of purchasing processes.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 10% of time
THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:
- Proficient in MRP systems
- Prior experience in aerospace, automotive, or other disruptive manufacturing industries
- Prior experience in rapid growth environment
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings
- Experience with AS9100, US export controls
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively and efficiently
- Excellent verbal and written communication abilities
- Team oriented, strong ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment and to multiple deadlines
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.
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.
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] 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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Management, or a relevant field
- 2+ years of related experience as a Buyer, Manufacturing Engineer, or equivalent
- Experience sourcing, onboarding, and negotiating pricing with suppliers
- Knowledge of purchasing processes
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 10% of the time
- Proficiency in MRP systems
- Experience in aerospace, automotive, or other disruptive manufacturing industries
- Experience in a rapid-growth environment
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings
- Experience with AS9100 and U.S. export controls
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work effectively in a team, multitask, and manage multiple deadlines
- Eligibility to comply with applicable U.S. ITAR export-control requirements
Rocket Lab Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Rocket Lab and has not been reviewed or approved by Rocket Lab.
-
Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as robust, with multiple HMO/PPO options and a 100% company‑sponsored HSA plan alongside dental and vision. Company materials and postings also note life and disability insurance and an overall strong medical offering for U.S. roles.
-
Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity participation is emphasized through RSUs and a discounted ESPP with a look‑back feature, positioned as a meaningful part of total rewards. Filings and benefits summaries highlight broad accessibility to ownership programs across many roles.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is outlined as a full suite that includes paid vacation, sick time, paid holidays, and paid parental leave. Some locations also feature supportive extras such as a childcare concierge and onsite amenities.
Rocket Lab Insights
What We Do
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, spacecraft components, satellites and other spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron 8-ton payload class launch vehicle. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 100+ satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a second launch site in Virginia, USA which is expected to become operational in late 2022. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.
