Ground Systems Automation Engineer II

Rocket Lab USA; Mississippi; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA is seeking a GSE Automation Controls Engineer II to join the team at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. You will commission, test, and troubleshoot ground software interfaces and engine test site systems as part of Neutron program support.

You will collaborate with IT, instrumentation, and software teams to deploy and validate test-site software, produce manuals and procedures, and develop test plans for performance validation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or equivalent qualification.
• 2+ years of experience in rocket engine test stand or launch complex design and build.
• Hands-on experience with data processing systems.
• Proficiency in Git and working with issue trackers.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot software issues across test-site systems.
• Collaborate to deploy and commission test-site software.
• Produce documentation, manuals, procedures, and work instructions.
• Develop and execute test plans for ground software and engine interfaces.
• Analyze post-test data and report findings.
• Serve as on-site software contact, escalating as needed.
• Support remote or on-site installation, commissioning, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Develop and troubleshoot PLC programs for test operations.

Skills

Data processing

Git

Issue tracking

PLC programming

Kubernetes

Docker

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE/CE or equivalent

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT

IEC 61131-3 PLC languages

Linux CLI

TeamCity

Job description

Rocket Lab USA is seeking a GSE Automation Controls Engineer II to join the team at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. You will commission, test, and troubleshoot ground software interfaces and engine test site systems as part of Neutron program support.

You will collaborate with IT, instrumentation, and software teams to deploy and validate test-site software, produce manuals and procedures, and develop test plans for performance validation.