Principal Electrical Engineer

Rocket Lab; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer in Chantilly, VA, to lead the full lifecycle of avionics hardware for EO systems. You will drive architecture, oversee complex electronics development, and mentor teams to deliver high‑reliability aerospace solutions.

You will guide design reviews, ensure compliance with standards, and advance radiation-mitigation practices for space environments, contributing to mission success and capability growth.

Qualifications

• Master’s in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent advanced experience).
• 12+ years of progressive electrical hardware design experience in aerospace or related high‑reliability industries.
• Architect and deliver innovative aerospace hardware solutions for mission‑critical systems.
• Extensive experience in high‑speed digital and mixed‑signal PCBA design with FPGAs, ASICs, and microcontrollers.
• Deep expertise in FPGA architecture and embedded software development for ARM‑based systems.
• Strong analog electronics design for high‑performance, low‑noise aerospace applications.
• Experience with radiation effects (SEU/SEL) and mitigation strategies.
• Leadership in PCBA verification, validation, and qualification for flight hardware.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the full lifecycle of avionics hardware for advanced EO systems.
• Drive system architecture and technology roadmaps for EO sensors across orbital domains.
• Oversee design and integration of complex electronics (FPGA, microcontroller, ADC/DAC, VPX).
• Architect and review payload-level designs, mentoring teams and ensuring standards compliance.
• Establish standards for schematic capture and PCBA layout in Altium Designer.
• Lead cross‑functional verification, validation, and integration test strategies.
• Drive environmental qualification programs (EMI/EMC, TVAC, shock, vibration).
• Lead design reviews and deliver high‑impact technical recommendations to leadership.

Skills

FPGA architecture

Embedded software

Altium Designer

PCBA design

Radiation effects

System integration

Electrical hardware design

Leadership

High-reliability aerospace

Education

Master’s in electrical engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

SPICE

MATLAB

FPGA development tools

Verilog/VHDL

Job description

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.

PRINCIPAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.

As a Principal Electrical Engineer based at our Rocket Lab Optical Systems site in Chantilly, VA, you will have the opportunity to support the development and test of avionics hardware for our electro-optical (EO) systems. In this role you will work collaboratively with engineers of various disciplines and participate in all aspects of electrical hardware development, from requirements definition through design, prototyping, fabrication, testing, and production. To be successful in this role, you must be passionate about avionics electrical hardware design, with a willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment. Join a driven team of pioneers relentlessly tackling challenging projects, delivering on the impossible, and making an impact on the future of space!

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

Hardware Design & Architecture

• Provide technical leadership for the full lifecycle of avionics hardware for advanced electro-optical systems
• Drive system architecture and technology roadmaps for EO sensors across all orbital domains
• Oversee design and integration of complex electronics (FPGA, microcontroller, ADC/DAC, VPX) at system and module levels
• Architect and review payload‑level designs, integrating motor controllers, processing units, imagers, and cryptographic devices, while mentoring engineering teams and ensuring compliance with industry standards and security requirements
• Establish standards for schematic capture and PCBA layout in Altium Designer, ensuring quality and reliability through critical design reviews

Requirements & Verification

• Lead PCBA requirements development through cross‑functional collaboration, ensuring alignment with system objectives
• Establish and oversee verification, validation, and integration test strategies
• Direct environmental qualification programs (EMI/EMC, TVAC, shock, vibration), ensuring compliance with standards
• Provide technical leadership and sign‑off for failure analysis and root‑cause investigations, driving continuous improvement
• Provide strategic technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams, fostering talent development and technical excellence
• Build and manage key relationships with suppliers, manufacturing partners, and executive stakeholders to align program objectives
• Drive production manufacturing initiatives, leading DFM strategy, yield optimization, and process innovation across programs
• Lead critical design reviews and deliver high‑impact technical recommendations to executive leadership and cross‑functional teams

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent advanced experience)
• 12+ years of progressive electrical hardware design experience in aerospace or related high‑reliability industries, with demonstrated technical leadership on complex programs
• Proven ability to architect and deliver innovative "blank sheet of paper" design solutions for mission‑critical aerospace systems
• Extensive experience in advanced PCBA design, including high‑speed digital and mixed‑signal circuits with FPGAs, ASICs, and microcontrollers
• Deep expertise in FPGA architecture and embedded software development for ARM‑based systems
• Deep expertise in system‑level integration of processors, FPGAs, switch mode power supplies, high‑speed communication interfaces, and precision analog instrumentation
• Strong analog electronics design, with a track record of delivering high‑performance, low‑noise solutions for aerospace applications
• High proficiency in circuit analysis and simulation using SPICE, MATLAB, and other industry‑standard tools
• Extensive experience architecting electronics for space environments, with deep knowledge of radiation effects (SEU/SEL) and mitigation strategies
• Leadership in PCBA verification, validation, and qualification for flight hardware
• Expert in advanced electronic lab instrumentation and hands‑on prototyping for complex system bring‑up and troubleshooting
• U.S. citizenship required due to government and program security requirements
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Proven track record designing high‑reliability aerospace hardware for extreme environments (TVAC, shock, vibration)
• Advanced expertise in EMI/EMC compliance, testing, and mitigation for aerospace systems
• Mastery of Altium Designer for schematic capture, multi‑layer PCB layout, and design reviews
• Experience designing rigid-flex PCBs and integrating electromechanical systems
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

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.