Rocket scientists are in hot demand in New Zealand. Auckland-based Rocket Lab says it has about 35 jobs to fill and founder and chief executive Peter Beck said it had struggled to find staff for some time.
"This year is really hard - we're shooting for our first flight at the end of the year and that is directly determined by finding the people to execute it," he said.
Rocket Lab is developing an 18 metre tall unmanned rocket to carry satellites into space for a fraction of the cost as those aboard much bigger launch vehicles overseas.
It has around 30 staff in Auckland where the rocket is being built and has just opened an office in Los Angeles.
Beck said there was a fulltime recruiter on board and word-of-mouth referrals were strong, but given the range of jobs in the start-up, filling vacancies was especially difficult.
