Rocket Lab USA

Rocket Lab USA

Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer II - TS/SCI

East Long Beach, Los Angeles County · Mid · full-time

No sponsorship$100k-$125kDetected 90 days ago
TypeScriptBusiness DevelopmentFEAGD&TSystems EngineeringMechanical DesignAerospace EngineeringLeadershipProblem Solving

Stay score

odds of building a lasting career here

45Sponsors, lottery-bound
Cap-exempt (no lottery)0
Sponsors this role72
Entry-level history0
PERM / green-card track0
Lottery odds (Level II)66
Fits your clock70

Sponsors, but it's cap-subject — you still face the weighted lottery (~30% per draw at Level II). Good if you win; have a cap-exempt backup on your list.

Lottery odds assume a STEM candidate.

Personalize to your clock →

H-1B wage level

the lottery is wage-weighted — each level is one more entry

Level I · 1×
Level I$82,6181 entry
Level II$103,1682 entries
Level III$123,7393 entries
Level IV$144,2904 entries

$3,168 more — $103,168 — moves this role to Level II and 2 lottery entries. That figure is inside the range the employer already advertised.

Based on the DOL prevailing wage for this occupation and worksite, a base salary of $103,168 would place this position at wage Level II. That figure is within the posted range, and I'd like to target it. This role classifies under "Mechanical Engineers" for prevailing-wage purposes.

DOL prevailing wage, 2026-27 wage year · Mechanical Engineers (17-2141) · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. Wage level is derived by USCIS from the offered wage, occupation and worksite; the occupation shown is inferred from the job title.

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About the role

  • 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.
  • Base salary is just one component of our total rewards package at Rocket Lab.
  • Other perks include: Discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.

Responsibilities

  • 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.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering
  • 2+ years of mechanical engineering experience
  • Experience with CAD modeling and drawing
  • U.S citizenship required, due to program requirements

Nice to have

  • Master's or PhD in aerospace or mechanical engineering
  • or other engineering discipline
  • Exceptional mechanical mechanism problem-solving skills
  • Hands-on development and testing experience
  • Experience with analysis and interpretation of test data (Thermal, Vibe)
  • Ability to take a product from concept through to production with little supervision
  • Highly self-motivated and able to work autonomously
  • Master's degree in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering

Compensation

  • $100,000 - $125,000 USD
  • 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.

Equal opportunity

  • Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.

Visa & Work Authorization

  • S citizenship required, due to program requirements

This listing is sourced directly from Rocket Lab USA's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.