Avionics Test & Launch Lead - Mission Control

Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers; Virginia; On-site; USD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company stock

Cash incentives

Medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation, holidays, and sickleave

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Wallops Island, VA is seeking a Lead Test & Launch Engineer – Avionics to oversee end‑to‑end testing, launch, and mission operations for Electron and Neutron vehicles. You’ll lead teams, manage operational projects, and ensure readiness of avionics systems during high‑stakes campaigns.

You’ll develop training programs, conduct readiness reviews, and serve as the primary technical authority for avionics during flight campaigns, shaping procedures and improvements across disciplines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, computer, aerospace, software engineering, or other technical field.
• 5–8+ years of engineering experience with avionics systems, RF, telemetry, flight software, or launch operations.
• Proficiency with avionics hardware, flight software, and ground station operations.
• Experience with high‑reliability software and safety‑critical aerospace software.
• Experience with RF systems, ground stations, telemetry, or avionics networking.
• Demonstrated leadership, change management, and team management skills.
• Understanding of complex software/hardware systems and operational procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead avionics hardware, software, and ground station systems for Electron and Neutron launch ops.
• Serve as console operator for avionics during test campaigns and launches.
• Develop and maintain CONOPS for avionics, flight software, and ground networks.
• Create and improve test plans, procedures, and checklists for avionics ops.
• Design HMIs for avionics monitoring, telemetry display, and ground station control.
• Lead readiness reviews, training simulations, and mission rehearsals.
• Troubleshoot real‑time and analyze data to resolve avionics and comms issues.
• Analyze post‑test data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Develop training programs and qualification matrices for console positions.
• Lead root‑cause analysis and corrective action programs for avionics anomalies.
• Drive development of Neutron avionics procedures and testing campaigns.
• Coordinate across disciplines to scale readiness and capability.
• Provide technical authority for systems during mission‑critical ops.

Skills

Avionics systems

RF systems

Telemetry

Flight software

Launch vehicle operations

Leadership

Operational readiness

Root-cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, Aerospace, Software Engineering

Tools

Ground station operations

HMIs design

Job description

Rocket Lab in Wallops Island, VA is seeking a Lead Test & Launch Engineer – Avionics to oversee end‑to‑end testing, launch, and mission operations for Electron and Neutron vehicles. You’ll lead teams, manage operational projects, and ensure readiness of avionics systems during high‑stakes campaigns.

You’ll develop training programs, conduct readiness reviews, and serve as the primary technical authority for avionics during flight campaigns, shaping procedures and improvements across disciplines.