Harness Design Engineer II

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock purchase plan

Medical plans

Dental & vision

Paid vacation

Sick time

11 holidays

Flexible spending accounts

Parental leave

Disability & life insurance

401(k) match

EV charging subsidy

Onsite fitness centers

Gym memberships discount

Merch discount 50%

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Harness Design Engineer II to design electrical harnesses for spacecraft, organize interfaces, select components, and generate design documentation to support CAD models. You’ll also assist with electrical engineering tasks for spacecraft and space systems components.

The role requires 2+ years of electrical engineering or avionics experience and U.S. citizenship due to program requirements. Collaboration in multi-disciplinary teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering, or other engineering field.
• 2+ years of electrical engineering or avionics experience.
• U.S citizenship required due to program requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design harness layout, connector/back shell selection, wire selection, and shielding for spacecraft.
• Generate pinout tables for harness connectors based on interconnect diagrams.
• Create and maintain BOMs for harnessing in PLM tools.
• Create documentation for electrical schematics and harness designs.
• Develop test plans for avionics subsystems and components.
• Analyze and optimize avionics circuits for performance and reliability.
• Participate in internal reviews as a representative of the avionics electrical engineering team.
• Collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams on electronic assemblies for satellite programs.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Avionics experience

US citizenship

Education

Bachelor's in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering

Tools

LT Spice

Altium

Siemens Teamcenter

JAMA

Job description

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets - we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space - our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

HARNESS DESIGN ENGINEER II

Based out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Harness Design Engineer II will primarily work on design of electrical harnesses for our spacecraft, including organizing interfaces, selecting components, specifying split locations and lengths, and generating design documentation to pass to our spacecraft engineering team to allow accurate CAD models to be made. Since this role will have heavy involvement in electronics, you will also get to assist in the execution of electrical engineering activities for our spacecraft and space systems components. This includes assisting our avionics designers with circuit design, analysis, prototyping and testing.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• Perform or support design tasks such as harness layout, connector and back shell selection, wire selection, and shielding for our spacecraft.
• Generate pinout tables for harness connectors at both ends of the assembly based on spacecraft interconnect diagrams
• Responsible for creating and maintaining BOMs for harnessing in our product lifecycle management (PLM) tool
• Assist in creating documentation for electrical system schematics and harness designs
• Develop test plans and procedures for avionics subsystems and components
• Perform analysis and evaluations to optimize spacecraft avionics circuits for performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Participate in internal design and customer facing review meetings as a representative of the avionics electrical engineering team.
• Work in multi-disciplinary teams to assist in design of electronic assemblies for our satellite and spacecraft programs

QUALIFICATIONS YOU’LL BRING AS HARNESS DESIGN ENGINEER II:

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering; or other engineering degree
• 2+ years of electrical engineering or avionics experience
• U.S citizenship required, due to program requirements

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Master’s or PhD in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering; or other engineering degree
• Experience in the aerospace/defense industry
• Experience supporting satellite development programs and satellite operations
• Thorough understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics
• Experience with LT Spice, Altium, and/or Siemens software suite (i.e. Teamcenter)
• Experience with requirement management tools such as JAMA
• Experience with testing electrical subsystems and assemblies, thermal vacuum or random vibration, and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing
• Proficiency in electronics principles and electrical systems, including power electronics, communication systems (e.g. RS-422, SPI, Ethernet, CAN bus), signal integrity, and grounding
• Proficiency with instrumentation, interfaces, and sensors, including power supplies, oscilloscopes, serial devices, accelerometers, thermocouples, RTDs, and 4-20mA sensors
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with competing priorities

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.

Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Total Compensation (base and equity)

$110,875 - $143,625 USD

$100,800 - $126,000 USD

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.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

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.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [e-mail]. This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 07/31/2029

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal.

How do you know if you have a disability?

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Short stature (dwarfism)
• Traumatic brain injury

Disability Status Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.