10 Rocket Lab engineering leaders
Engineering Director - Electron Design, Director Of Manufacturing Engineering, Senior Director, Space Systems Software and Global Director of RF Engineering are among the roles held by these ten Rocket Lab engineering leaders. A reader can learn how engineering leaders work at Rocket Lab from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Alexander Brant
LinkedInExperience: Engineering Director - Electron Design · Rocket Lab
Alexander Brant MEng CEng has been Engineering Director - Electron Design at Rocket Lab in New Zealand since July 2026. At Airbus Alexander Brant was Head of Engineering / MFT Technical Leader - Hydrogen Systems (2025–2026), Product Owner and Lead Architect - Hydrogen Systems in 2025 and Overall Hydrogen Systems Architect, Fuel Cell Product - Airbus ZEROe from 2024 to 2025.
Andrew Bao
LinkedInExperience: VP of Engineering · Rocket Lab
Andrew Bao was VP of Engineering at Rocket Lab from 2021 to 2025, Director of Engineering there from 2018 to 2021 and Technical Lead there from 2013 to 2018. Andrew Bao was Subsystem Lead Engineer at SpaceX from 2008 to 2013 and Aerospace Engineer at Boeing Defense, Space & Security from 2004 to 2008, and lists aerospace systems and projects as the focus.
Bill Lance
LinkedInExperience: Global Director of RF Engineering · Rocket Lab
Bill Lance has been Global Director of RF Engineering at Rocket Lab in New Zealand since April 2023 and was RF Engineering Manager there from 2018 to 2023. Bill Lance was Quality Assurance Manager at Saab Defense and Security from 2016 to 2017 and Systems Engineer at Saab Defence and Security from 2013 to 2016.
Cesar Marte
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Manufacturing Engineering · Rocket Lab
Cesar Marte has been Director Of Manufacturing Engineering at Rocket Lab in Los Angeles since November 2021 and was Principal Manufacturing Engineer there from 2019 to 2021. At SpaceX Cesar Marte was Manager, Propulsion Manufacturing Engineering from 2015 to 2019, Lead Manufacturing Engineer from 2014 to 2015 and Turbomachinery Development Engineer from 2012 to 2014.
Daniel Olson
LinkedInExperience: Director of Build and Integration Engineering · Rocket Lab
Daniel Olson has been Director of Build and Integration Engineering at Rocket Lab since February 2026. At Impulse Space Daniel Olson was VP - Vehicle Engineering from 2022 to 2023 and Director - Vehicle Engineering from 2021 to 2022, and was Managing Director at Joe Gibbs Aerospace from 2019 to 2021 and Principal Research & Development Engineer at Joe Gibbs Racing from 2006 to 2019.
Jacob Rendon
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of Neutron Development (USA) · Rocket Lab
Jacob Rendon has been Senior Director of Neutron Development (USA) at Rocket Lab in Long Beach, California since March 2023 and was Director of Fluid Systems at Rocket Lab from 2022 to 2023. At Firefly Aerospace Jacob Rendon was Director of Fluid Systems from 2020 to 2022, Fluid Systems Manager from 2019 to 2020 and Propulsion Engineer from 2018 to 2019.
John Mongelli
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Rocket Lab Optical Systems
John Mongelli has been Director of Engineering at Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, Arizona since 2026. John Mongelli was Vice President Of Engineering at Optical Support, Inc. from 2019 to 2026, CEO at Ruda Optical from 2016 to 2019, and Vice Presodent of Business of Development & Director of Engineering at Ruda Optical from 2009 to 2016.
Kyle Andringa
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Space Systems Software · Rocket Lab
Kyle Andringa has been Senior Director, Space Systems Software at Rocket Lab in Denver, Colorado since September 2023. At Rocket Lab Kyle Andringa was Director of Engineering, Space Systems Software (2022–2023) and Director of Technology, Space Systems Software (2021–2022), and at ASI by Rocket Lab was Chief Technology Officer in 2021 and Director, Technology and Product Development from 2017 to 2021.
Mihai Totu
LinkedInExperience: Director of Terrestrial Software · Rocket Lab
Mihai Totu has been Director of Terrestrial Software at Rocket Lab in Auckland since January 2025. At Rocket Lab Mihai Totu was Manager - HITL from 2023 to 2025, HITL Team Lead - GNC from 2020 to 2023 and Mechatronics Engineer - GNC HITL Testing from 2018 to 2020, and was CAD CAM and Digital Imaging Engineer at Henry Schein New Zealand from 2017 to 2018.
Raymond Copenhaver
LinkedInExperience: Chief Engineer & Dir of Engineering · Rocket Lab Optical Systems
Raymond Copenhaver has been Chief Engineer & Dir of Engineering at Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, Arizona since August 2025. At GEOST Raymond Copenhaver was GEOST Chief Engineer from 2024 to 2025 and Tech Fellow from 2022 to 2024, and was Senior Principal Systems Engineer at Raytheon from 2016 to 2021.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's engineering area, whether Electron design, Neutron development, space systems software, RF, optical systems or manufacturing engineering, to the decision you face. Check each role's start date to see how long the person has held it.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your current engineering role?
- 02How do you balance design changes against production and launch schedules?
- 03What have you learned about building engineering teams across several Rocket Lab sites?
Reaching Rocket Lab engineering leaders
How can I contact one of these Rocket Lab engineering leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 2 companies: Rocket Lab and Rocket Lab Optical Systems, based on profile data retrieved on October 19, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
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Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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