Jobs in Christchurch

Dawn Aerospace is building scalable space transportation. We're developing advanced spaceflight systems and creating a future where access to space is more frequent, sustainable, and affordable. We're looking for a Supply Chain Coordinator to support the flow of materials, components and hardware through our manufacturing operation. This is not a traditional purchasing or logistics role. You'll work at the centre of an aerospace production environment where traceability, quality, supplier performance and execution matter. About the Role Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Finance, you'll ensure the right materials are available at the right time while maintaining the standards and records required to build flight hardware. You'll be responsible for: Managing purchase orders and supplier deliveries. Maintaining accurate inventory, material and procurement records. Supporting material traceability, serialisation and configuration control. Monitoring supplier performance and escalating delivery or supply risks. Ensuring part numbers, revisions and manufacturing records remain accurate. Supporting the movement of hardware through production. Identifying opportunities to improve purchasing, inventory and supply chain processes. What We're Looking For We're particularly interested in people who have worked in high-reliability manufacturing environments where quality, traceability and documentation are critical. Ideal backgrounds include: Aerospace Defence A

Join us in developing a remotely piloted reusable spaceplane that combines the demanding performance of a rocket with the reusability of an aircraft. We're looking for an experienced Certification Engineer who enjoys taking ownership of risks and mitigations in the flight operations domain. We need someone who can analyse the safety risks of complex UAS operations, interpret high level safety objectives, and work with engineering and flight operations teams to establish our operations are safe. You will directly contribute to the safety case that demonstrates frequent unmanned, rocket-powered flights to space are safe. If you want a narrow, heavily structured role, this is probably not for you. We are looking for someone practical, organised, and capable of taking ownership in a fast-moving environment. This role works within the Spaceplane Certification Team reporting to the Certification Team Lead. You will not have a team working directly for you but will have a high level of interaction with the Flight Operations and Systems Engineering teams. What You'll Do Manage Certification Projects and Liaison with Civil Aviation Authorities and External Stakeholders • Engage directly with authorities to come to agreement on acceptable risk mitigations. • Where there is disagreement in acceptable approaches to safety, resolve in a manner that builds trust and enables progress. • Work closely with Flight Operations and Systems Engineering

Manufacture hardware that goes to space. At Dawn Aerospace, we build satellite propulsion systems and the world's fastest-climbing spaceplane. We're looking for an experienced CNC Machinist to programme, set up and run complex machining jobs that become flight hardware. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys owning the entire machining process, from CAM programming and fixturing through to first-off parts and repeatable production. You'll work on everything from rapid R&D prototypes to production hardware, helping scale manufacturing as we grow. You'll work closely with engineers and technicians to solve problems, improve processes and manufacture high-precision components from stainless steel, titanium, aluminium and Inconel. If you take pride in producing exceptional work, enjoy technical challenges and want to see the parts you make fly, we'd like to hear from you. What You'll Do CNC Programming & Machining Create and optimise CNC programs using Fusion 360, TopSolid, SolidCAM or similar CAM software. Design and implement fixturing for safe, repeatable machining. Machine complex components from raw material and post-processed additive manufactured parts. Select tooling, workholding and machining strategies for high-precision applications. Prove out new programs and transition them into reliable production processes. Set up and operate CNC machines while maintaining tight tolerances and quality standards. Inspect finished components using precision measuring

Dawn Aerospace has become the biggest green propulsion provider in the world, and our ambitions are even greater. We’re growing our portfolio of products to be even more performant, reliable and mass-manufacturable. As an Electronics Engineer, you will directly contribute to the design, qualification, and production of high-reliability electronics for our space propulsion systems. You will play a key role in developing flight-ready propulsion electronics, working across design, testing, and manufacturing in close collaboration with systems, mechanical, and production teams. This role is open for both Intermediate and Senior Engineers. The scope of responsibility and technical ownership will be aligned to experience and capability. This role combines hands-on electronics engineering with end-to-end ownership and offers exposure to the full lifecycle of flight hardware, from early concepts and prototypes through qualification and release to production. If you want a role where you can just do the same thing every day, then this is not for you. We’re looking for a highly motivated, talented Electronics/Aviation Engineer who is unafraid to own complex problems and their solution. What You’ll Do Design and develop mixed-signal, power, and embedded electronics for space applications Detailed design of in-space electronics including component selection, schematics capture and layout using KiCAD and maintain designs in Git Apply ECSS/NASA design practices to ensure reliability

Senior Software Engineer - Business Automation Build the software that helps build a spaceplane At Dawn Aerospace, we're building a reusable spaceplane and working to make routine access to space a reality. Behind every flight is a huge amount of software. The Spaceplane Software team develops and maintains the systems that power the programme, from mission control and flight software through to the ERP, manufacturing and operational systems used to design, build and fly our vehicles. We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer - Business Automation to take ownership of the software that keeps our business running. You'll work across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, finance and operations to identify opportunities, build solutions, and deliver tools that have a direct impact on how we develop and manufacture aerospace hardware. This is a role for someone who enjoys solving real-world problems, working closely with stakeholders, and owning products from concept through to deployment. What you'll do Design, build and maintain business-critical software across the full stack Frontend and backend development Databases design and administration UI/UX design DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering Own the roadmap and priorities for Dawn's internal business systems Work directly with teams across the company, from engineering to finance, to understand their needs and deliver solutions that work for them Take projects from idea to implementation, operating with a high

Our Mission: Fly to space twice in a day. At Dawn Aerospace, we're building a future where access to space is as routine as air travel. Our Aurora spaceplane programme is developing a rapidly reusable, rocket-powered aircraft capable of transforming how humanity reaches space. This isn't a programme for people who want to spend years analysing a small part of a large aircraft. This is an opportunity to work on flight-critical structures for one of the most ambitious aerospace projects in the world, seeing your analysis directly influence the design, testing and flight of real hardware. We're looking for a Structural Analyst to join our Spaceplane team in Christchurch. You'll play a key role in developing and validating the structures that enable routine, scalable and sustainable access to space. Working alongside world-class engineers across aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, systems, composites and manufacturing, you'll help solve some of the toughest structural challenges in aerospace while contributing directly to hardware that flies. What you will do Perform structural analysis and validation of composite and metallic airframe structures and components. Develop analytical and finite element models to predict structural performance under flight, ground and test loading conditions. Evaluate the static strength, stiffness, stability, fatigue and damage tolerance of composite and metallic structures. Develop structural load cases and certification substantiation approaches.

Our Mission: Fly to Space Twice in One Day At Dawn Aerospace, we're building a space transportation network with the frequency and reliability of aviation. Our Aurora spaceplane programme is developing the world's first rapidly reusable, rocket-powered aircraft capable of routine access to space. Every day, we are pushing the boundaries of aerospace engineering, designing, building, testing, and flying vehicles at a pace rarely seen in the industry. We're looking for a Composites Design Engineer to help design the structures that will make this possible. This is role where your designs will be realised. You'll see your work move rapidly from concept to manufacture, test and flight, working alongside a highly capable team building one of the world's most ambitious aerospace programmes. What You'll Do Design primary and secondary composite airframe structures, including fuselage, wings, control surfaces and internal support structures. Develop laminate schedules, manufacturing drawings, tooling concepts, assembly fixtures and engineering documentation. Perform structural sizing, trade studies and design optimisation using analytical and numerical methods. Work closely with manufacturing, test and flight operations teams to ensure designs are practical, manufacturable and robust. Support structural testing, qualification activities and flight campaigns. Collaborate with aerodynamics, systems, avionics and propulsion engineers to deliver integrated vehicle solutions. Contribute t

Dawn Aerospace and the University of Canterbury are seeking expressions of interest from prospective PhD candidates for a number of fully-sponsored research projects in advanced aerospace engineering. Successful applicants will be enrolled as PhD students at the University of Canterbury and will undertake research projects aligned with real-world aerospace challenges at Dawn Aerospace. Candidates will be supervised jointly by University of Canterbury academics and Dawn Aerospace technical experts. This is a unique opportunity to combine doctoral research with direct exposure to one of the world's fastest-growing space transportation companies. Available Research Projects Three projects are available: Microgravity Thermofluids Analysis and Propellant Management: Research focused on fluid behaviour and propellant management in microgravity environments, supporting the development of future space propulsion systems. https://bpb-ap-se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.auckland.ac.nz/dist/e/1107/files/2026/07/ADS-2.13-Microgravity-thermofluids-analysis-and-propellant-management.pdf Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation for Hypersonic UAVs: Research focused on advanced design methodologies and optimisation techniques for next-generation high-speed aerospace vehicles. https://bpb-ap-se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.auckland.ac.nz/dist/e/1107/files/2026/07/ADS-2.14-Multidisciplinary-Design-Optimization-for-Hypersonic-UAVs.pdf Design and testing of novel space-efficient damping structures

Our Mission: Fly to space twice in a day. At Dawn Aerospace, we are building the Aurora, a reusable rocket-powered spaceplane designed to make access to space as routine as aviation. To support this mission Dawn is looking for an Avionics Technician to join our Avionics Team. This is a hands-on role focused on building, integrating, and supporting the avionics systems that power the Mk-II Aurora spaceplane. You will work closely with avionics engineers, manufacturing teams, and suppliers to deliver high-quality aircraft systems as we transition the Mk-II Aurora from a research and development platform into a repeatable production aircraft. You will take ownership of electrical harness manufacture, supply chain coordination, and helping establish the processes and standards that will support future aircraft production. If you want a narrow, heavily structured role, this is probably not for you. We are looking for someone practical, organised, and capable of taking ownership in a fast-moving environment. What you'll do Build, install, and test flight-ready electrical harnesses, including manufacture, lacing, termination, labelling, inspection, routing, continuity testing, fault finding, and verification. Support the transition from development to production by improving documentation, work instructions, tooling, and production workflows. Integrat

At Dawn Aerospace, we are building the future of space access through the Mk-II Aurora, a reusable, rocket-powered spaceplane designed to operate with the frequency, responsiveness, and practicality of aircraft. As we continue to expand flight operations and advance the Mk-II programme, we are seeking an Aircraft Maintenance Technician to play a key role in preparing, maintaining, inspecting, and operating the spaceplane and its supporting ground systems. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys working directly with hardware, solving problems at the point of use, and contributing to the development of a new generation of aerospace operations. The successful candidate will be a core member of the Flight Operations team, supporting both day-to-day maintenance activities and the continual improvement of maintenance processes as Dawn scales towards increasingly frequent flight operations. This role reports to the Flight Operations Team Lead and works closely with stakeholders across the wider spaceplane programme. We are looking for someone who combines technical competence with a practical mindset. You will be comfortable following established procedures, identifying and addressing issues before they become problems, maintaining accurate records, and contributing ideas that improve safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. Success in this role requires adaptability, attention to detail, and a willingness to take ownership in a fast-moving aerospace programme. If yo

At Dawn Aerospace, we are building the Aurora, a reusable rocket-powered spaceplane designed to make access to space as routine as aviation. Having demonstrated the technology through an intensive research and development programme, we are now entering the next phase of our journey, transforming how we build aircraft so that production can scale from prototypes to multiple spaceplanes per year. We are seeking an experienced industrialization visionary to lead this transformation. This is a senior and foundational role responsible for establishing the manufacturing vision, production systems, and operational processes that will enable Dawn Aerospace’s spaceplane program to transition from an engineering-led R&D organisation into a repeatable, efficient, and scalable production business. You will work across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, programme management, and leadership to define how products move from design into production while ensuring manufacturability, quality, and delivery remain at the centre of every decision. Reporting to the VP of Spaceplanes, this role interfaces across the entire organisation. You will identify the organisational, technical, and operational changes required to support higher production rates while maintaining the agility that has enabled rapid innovation. You will develop production strategies, manufacturing standards, industrialisation plans, production readiness criteria, and continuous improvement initiatives that allow Dawn