Principal Electrical Engineer

Rocket Lab Corp.; Tucson, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Tucson, AZ, is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to lead avionics hardware development for advanced electro-optical systems. You will drive system architecture, oversee FPGA- and MCU-based designs, and mentor engineering teams across life-cycle stages.

This role requires extensive PCBA expertise, space-grade design experience, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment with a focus on reliability and security standards.

Qualifications

• Master’s in electrical engineering or related field (or equivalent advanced experience).
• 12+ years of progressive electrical hardware design experience in aerospace/high-reliability industries with leadership on complex programs.
• Proven ability to architect and deliver innovative mission-critical designs for aerospace systems.
• Extensive PCBA design experience with high-speed digital and mixed-signal circuits (FPGA/ASIC/microcontrollers).
• Deep expertise in FPGA architecture and embedded software for ARM-based systems.
• Deep system-level integration of processors, FPGAs, power supplies, high-speed interfaces, and precision analog instrumentation.
• Strong analog electronics design for high-performance, low-noise aerospace applications.
• Experience with SPICE/MATLAB and industry-standard tools for circuit analysis.
• Experience designing electronics for space environments with radiation mitigation knowledge.
• Leadership in PCBA verification, validation, and flight-hardware qualification.
• Hands-on prototyping and lab instrumentation for complex bring-up.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the full lifecycle of avionics hardware for advanced EO systems.
• Drive system architecture and roadmaps for EO sensors across orbital domains.
• Oversee design and integration of complex electronics (FPGA, MCU, ADC/DAC, VPX) at system and module levels.
• Architect and review payload-level designs, mentoring engineering teams and ensuring standards and security compliance.
• Establish standards for schematic capture and PCBA layout in Altium Designer; drive design reviews for quality and reliability.

Skills

Avionics hardware design

FPGA architecture

Embedded software development

System-level integration

PCBA design

High-reliability aerospace

Radiation effects mitigation

Leadership / mentorship

Verification & validation

Supplier relationships

Education

Master's in electrical engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

SPICE

MATLAB

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.

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 Optical Systems site in Tucson, AZ, 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.

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 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.