Avionics Engineer I - Design

JobSpace; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland is seeking an Electrical Engineer to design flight-quality PCBAs for spacecraft avionics and to contribute to the development of advanced satellite hardware.

You will analyze power electronics, analogue and digital circuits, and perform SI tests while collaborating with cross-functional teams across engineering, manufacturing, and systems groups.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field with 1–3+ years of electronics design experience.
• Strong fundamentals in power electronics, analog/digital design, signal integrity, and grounding.
• Experience with Altium Designer and circuit simulation tools (LTspice or SPICE).
• Ability to read datasheets, perform component-level analysis, and troubleshoot hardware.
• Strong documentation and cross-functional teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop flight-quality PCBAs for spacecraft avionics systems.
• Conduct electrical analyses including worst-case analysis, power budgets, thermal derating, and signal integrity.
• Participate in hands-on bring-up, debugging, verification of prototype hardware, plus environmental testing.
• Create and maintain design documentation including schematics, bills of materials, test reports, and design justification documents
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Test, Manufacturing, Systems Engineering, and other subsystem groups to resolve interface issues and support integrated system development

Skills

Power electronics

Analog design

Digital design

Signal integrity

Grounding principles

Documentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

LTspice

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Rocket Lab's Space Systems team is responsible for every satellite and satellite component made by Rocket Lab: from complete satellites destined for missions to the Moon and Mars, to the individual components and subsystems that make up a satellite like solar panels, flight software, reaction wheels and star trackers, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team is made up of engineers, technicians, and designers who design, create, and put together our own satellites for missions across the commercial, government, and defense sectors, or who build and assemble satellite hardware and software that supports other satellite missions.

What You'll Get To Do:

• Design and develop flight-quality PCBAs for spacecraft avionics systems, including schematic capture, component selection, circuit design for power electronics and control systems, and collaboration with PCB layout designers
• Conduct electrical analyses including worst-case analysis, power budgets, thermal derating, and signal integrity assessments to verify design robustness
• Participate in hands-on bring-up, debugging, and verification of prototype hardware, plus support environmental testing activities (Thermal Vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC)
• Create and maintain comprehensive design documentation including schematics, bills of materials, test reports, and design justification documents
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Test, Manufacturing, Systems Engineering, and other subsystem groups to resolve interface issues and support integrated system development

You’ll Bring These Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electronics, or related field with 1-3+ years of experience in electronics design or hardware development
• Strong foundation in electronics fundamentals: power electronics, analogue and digital circuit design, signal integrity, and grounding principles
• Proficiency in schematic capture and PCB layout using eCAD tools (Altium Designer preferred) and circuit simulation tools (LTspice, SPICE, or equivalent)
• Hands-on experience with standard laboratory instrumentation and ability to read datasheets, perform component-level analysis, and troubleshoot hardware issues
• Strong documentation skills and effective communication abilities to work within cross-functional engineering teams

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have:

• Experience designing power electronics (DC-DC converters, linear regulators, power distribution circuits) or motor drive electronics
• Familiarity with space-specific design considerations such as radiation effects, thermal management in vacuum, component derating, or aerospace qualification testing
• Experience performing detailed electrical analyses (Worst-Case Analysis, thermal analysis, power budgeting) and understanding of DFM/DFT principles
• Programming experience (Python, MATLAB) for data analysis/test automation or familiarity with FPGA development (Verilog/VHDL)
• Understanding of requirements management and configuration control processes in regulated or high-reliability environments

What To Expect:

We're on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that's not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other's backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. 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.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. 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.