Rocket Lab Manufacturing Engineer Interview Questions
& Process

A recruiter reached out on LinkedIn. The process involved a recruiter interview, then meetings with the team manager and team lead. There was also an engineering test, which was manageable, and I'd suggest brushing up on Python and having it ready if you're not already familiar. I passed on the offer because relocating from overseas wasn't ideal for our situation at the time.

I interviewed for this role a few months back in Albuquerque. It began with a recruiter reaching out to schedule a recruiter screening. The team quickly set up the next stage for the following week: a virtual screening with the hiring manager and some engineers. Then, by the end of that month (three weeks after the virtual screening), I had my onsite interview. The onsite was long and involved a one-hour presentation, four interview panels, and a site tour. It was a bit weird when a couple of engineers asked if I was sure about moving to ABQ, even though I'd already explained my reasons multiple times. I felt good about how I presented myself, and the hiring manager said I had a strong background and they'd consider me for another similar opening if they didn't find another strong candidate. So, I left feeling optimistic. About three weeks later, the recruiter emailed asking for a chat the next day, which was a bit vague. By then, I had started interviewing elsewhere because Rocket Lab seemed slow and less enthusiastic than before. The next day, the recruiter said the team was excited but still interviewing others and needed two more weeks to compare notes. I told the recruiter I was interviewing elsewhere and would likely accept the first offer that met my needs. Two more weeks passed, and I had already finished my final round with another company in under two weeks. The Rocket Lab recruiter emailed again asking for availability the next day for a quick call. They said the team was aligning internally before making a final decision. Two days later, I got an offer from the other company and accepted it. I then emailed the recruiter to withdraw my candidacy from Rocket Lab. It had been over two months since the initial recruiter call (and over 1.5 months since the onsite) and they still hadn't decided.

The interview involved a presentation and technical questions, with a total time of 30 minutes. It started with a 5-minute introduction, followed by a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation about a past project, and then 10+ minutes of questions.