Principal Avionics Engineer - Flight Hardware Lead

Rocket Lab Corporation; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland, NZ is seeking a Principal Avionics Engineer to own the avionics hardware and drive design across bench testing, reviews, and in-house production. You will set strategy for circuit design, PCB layouts, and test coverage with hands-on leadership.

You will mentor engineers, guide R&D practices, and align engineering changes with manufacturing goals, while shaping a scalable avionics development path for Neutron and future missions at Rocket Lab Auckland.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent professional experience.
• 8+ years of relevant industry experience in avionics or similar domains.
• Proficiency in analogue, high-speed digital, and power electronics design.

Responsibilities

• Act as technical lead for avionics hardware across bench, reviews and integration.
• Manage full lifecycle from R&D prototyping to qualification and production.
• Review and approve engineering changes, oversee board and flex design, analyses, and validation.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to performance reviews and resourcing plans.

Skills

Analogue design

High speed digital

Power electronics

Electronic circuit design

Mentoring / technical guidance

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Altium/EDA tools

Circuit simulation (SPICE)

Job description

Rocket Lab in Auckland, NZ is seeking a Principal Avionics Engineer to own the avionics hardware and drive design across bench testing, reviews, and in-house production. You will set strategy for circuit design, PCB layouts, and test coverage with hands-on leadership.

You will mentor engineers, guide R&D practices, and align engineering changes with manufacturing goals, while shaping a scalable avionics development path for Neutron and future missions at Rocket Lab Auckland.