Facilities Maintenance Manufacturing Engineering Intern

Rocket Lab Corporation

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 Maintenance team at our Auckland Production Complex. As a Facilities Maintenance Manufacturing Engineer Intern, you will play a key role in developing and implementing standardised maintenance work instructions that will become a permanent part of Rocket Lab's maintenance procedures. As we scale our operations to support both Electron and Neutron programmes, we're maturing our maintenance planning processes to include systematic execution of Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) activities. You will create structured work instructions for our technicians, implement them into our CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System), and develop training materials that can be deployed across multiple Rocket Lab sites. Your work will directly support our AS9100 aerospace quality standards and help us develop a complete end-to-end production system. You'll work alongside experienced maintenance technicians to validate your instructions in real production environments, iterate based on lessons learned, and create scalable processes for other Rocket Lab facilities. 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 Work Instruction Development: Collaborate with the maintenance team to establish practical formats for work instructions Review equipment location, naming conventions, maintenance tasks, and common components to determine optimal structure Create detailed work instructions for PPM activities on all Single Point of Failure equipment Develop standardised instructions for common maintenance tasks across production equipment, including in-house calibration procedures Document appropriate maintenance checks and procedures for critical manufacturing systems Validation & Continuous Improvement: Undertake maintenance activities alongside trained technicians to test work instruction functionality and accuracy Gather lessons learned from hands-on testing and use feedback to refine work instruction structure Iterate on documentation to maximise efficiency, clarity, and record-keeping effectiveness CMMS Implementation: Release completed work instructions into Rocket Lab's CMMS system Collaborate with the EIS (Enterprise Information Systems) team to configure system integration Support the technical implementation of work instructions into the CMMS module Training & Scalability: Create comprehensive training materials to enable other Rocket Lab sites to develop their own work instructions Develop a common strategy and templates that can be adopted across multiple facilities Create process maps that clearly communicate maintenance workflows Reporting & Documentation: Support creation of Power BI reports to capture maintenance KPIs within our AS9100 quality structure Upload all process documentation to Rocket Lab's information database Create comprehensive handover documentation for long-term maintenance of the system 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 PROJECT GOALS Establish a standardised format and structure for maintenance work instructions in collaboration with the maintenance team Create comprehensive work instructions for PPM activities on all Single Point of Failure equipment Develop work instructions for common maintenance tasks across remaining production equipment Validate work instructions through hands-on testing alongside maintenance technicians in production environments Create scalable training materials and templates that enable other Rocket Lab sites to adopt the same work instruction methodology Support development of Power BI reports for maintenance KPI tracking aligned with AS9100 requirements Stretch Goal: Successfully integrate work instructions into the CMMS module in collaboration with the EIS team WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR MUST HAVE: Currently studying or recently completed a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, or related field Strong technical writing and documentation skills Ability to create clear, detailed instructions that can be followed by technicians with varying experience levels Analytical and problem-solving mindset with attention to detail Ability to create process maps and flowcharts Comfortable working in a production/manufacturing environment Takes ownership and accountability for task completion by delivering results Proactive communicator, comfortable seeking clarification and feedback from technical staff Ability to work independently and manage time effectively Collaborative mindset, able to work with cross-functional teams including maintenance technicians, engineers, and IT staff NICE TO HAVE: Experience with mechanical equipment, preferably in a maintenance capacity Basic understanding of the functions and working principles of a CMMS system 1-3 months of relevant work experience in maintenance, manufacturing, or operations Familiarity with Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) concepts Experience with Power BI or other data visualisation tools Knowledge of AS9100 or other aerospace quality management standards Understanding of reliability engineering or maintenance engineering principles Experience with ERP or maintenance management software (e.g., Infor, SAP, Maximo) Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, TPM, RCM) Hands-on experience in workshop or manufacturing environments Passion for aerospace, space technology, and innovation WHAT WE OFFER Hands-on experience developing permanent maintenance infrastructure for aerospace manufacturing Opportunity to create systems and processes that will be used across multiple Rocket Lab facilities Direct impact on the reliability and efficiency of rocket production operations Mentorship from experienced maintenance professionals and manufacturing engineers Professional development in maintenance engineering, technical documentation, and CMMS systems Exposure to aerospace manufacturing equipment and production operations Experience working alongside skilled maintenance technicians in real production environments Cross-functional collaboration with maintenance, engineering, and IT teams Potential pathway to future career opportunities at Rocket Lab in reliability engineering, maintenance engineering, or operations management HOW TO APPLY Please ensure you submit a cover letter, detailing why you are interested in the specific role you have applied for. Please make sure to cite a project/experience/hobby that is relevant to the role. Please note: We will be reviewing and interviewing candidates on a rolling basis as applications are received. We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible, as positions may be filled before the closing date. Start Date: November 2026 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…