Lead EO/IR Payload Integration & Test Engineer

Rocket Lab; Tucson (AZ); Presencial; USD 140.000 - 190.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Rocket Lab in Tucson, AZ is seeking a Principal Integration & Test Engineer to lead integration, alignment, calibration, and verification of advanced EO/IR payloads for spaceborne sensor systems. The role is hands-on, requiring expertise with optical benches, metrology, and test readiness.

The ideal candidate will have 12+ years in complex system integration and a US security clearance. You’ll collaborate across Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems teams to ensure successful mission outcomes and

Formación

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 12+ years of experience integrating and testing complex systems.
• US citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Experience in optical system integration, test, or verification.
• Hands-on experience with optical alignment, metrology, interferometry, and imaging-system characterization.
• Familiarity with optical benches, cleanroom practices, contamination control, and environmental testing.
• Strong data analysis, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.

Responsabilidades

• Lead integration, alignment, calibration, and verification activities for advanced EO/IR optical payloads used in spaceborne sensor systems.
• Execute hands-on optical integration tasks including optical bench setup, alignment, metrology, and environmental test readiness—we build beautiful things.
• Develop and refine test procedures, optical characterization methods, and performance-validation processes.
• Support environmental tests (TVAC, vibe, shock), monitor optical performance, and ensure compliance with mission requirements.
• Drive resolution of integration issues, test anomalies, and optical performance deviations—we hustle and we do the impossible.
• Work cross-functionally with Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, and AIT teams to ensure seamless optical-mechanical-electrical integration.
• Support customer reviews, data packages, and technical briefings.
• Identify opportunities to improve alignment methods, test tooling, and data-analysis workflows.

Conocimientos

Optical alignment

Metrology

Interferometry

Imaging-system characterization

Data analysis

Educación

Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field

Herramientas

Optical benches

Automated test equipment

Optical STE

Descripción del empleo

Rocket Lab in Tucson, AZ is seeking a Principal Integration & Test Engineer to lead integration, alignment, calibration, and verification of advanced EO/IR payloads for spaceborne sensor systems. The role is hands-on, requiring expertise with optical benches, metrology, and test readiness.

The ideal candidate will have 12+ years in complex system integration and a US security clearance. You’ll collaborate across Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems teams to ensure successful mission outcomes and