Senior Avionics Engineer I - Mission Formulation

Rocket Lab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 124,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company stock

Employee Stock Purchase Program (15%)

Medical plans (top-tier)

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays

HSA company contribution

401(k) with company match

EV charging subsidy

Onsite fitness centers

Discounted gym memberships

Merch store discount

Job summary

Rocket Lab, based in Long Beach, CA, seeks a Senior Avionics Engineer I – Mission Formulation to develop high-performance launch vehicle avionics for Electron and Neutron programs. You will work with Business Development to translate mission concepts into electrical design solutions, interfacing with payloads and deployers.

You will collaborate with production and engineering teams on design reviews, instrument quests, and requirements, gaining exposure to end-to-end hardware development in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace engineering or other technical discipline.
• 5+ years of engineering experience in avionics or electrical systems.
• Active DoD US Government Secret security clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary avionics design engineering contact to Business Development for proposal and mission concepts.
• Develop electrical schematics, harnesses, and interfaces for payloads and deployers.
• Collaborate with external stakeholders to capture mission-specific requirements and document solutions.
• Support program execution of Electron and Neutron systems through commissioning and calibration.

Skills

Avionics design

Stakeholder collaboration

Mission formulation

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace engineering or other technical discipline

Tools

FPGA

ARM processors

Job description

Long Beach, CA

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.

SENIOR AVIONICS ENGINEER I - MISSION FORMULATION

Based out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Avionics Engineer I – Mission Formulation is responsible for developing high-performance launch vehicle systems in support of the Launch Systems Business Development and Strategy team.

The Senior Avionics Engineer I - Mission Formulation is an integral part of Rocket Lab's Global Launch Services (GLS) Mission Formulation Team which works closely with other Engineering teams and Production to bring new launch and mission concepts to life. This team is also responsible for the formulation and implementation of classified missions on HASTE and Electron launch vehicles and play a key role in developing future missions for Electron and Neutron. Given the high launch cadence of Electron and pace of Neutron development, you will have unparalleled opportunities for end-to-end hardware development and seeing your designs reach space.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• Primary Avionics Design engineering contact to Business Development for proposal and mission concepts, including:
  • Electron and Neutron mission operational concept development
  • Electrical and RF design and analysis for unique payload accommodations including processing, vehicle integration, and launch site
  • Designing and documenting electrical schematics, harnesses, and kits, including custom vehicle electrical schematics, and providing detailed pinouts for all electrical interfaces to payloads or deployers.
  • Working with external stakeholders and customers for mission-specific requirements engineering
  • Documenting the proposed avionics design solution and participating in design reviews with the customer
• Work with the Rocket Lab Engineering and Production teams to:
  • Develop tools and processes for automating common proposal analysis tasks
  • Participate in program execution of Electron and Neutron system commissioning and calibration

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace engineering or other technical discipline
• 5+ years of working experience in engineeringExperience developing full design solutions for significant avionics or electrical systems in orbital launch vehicle or missile systems
• Active DoD US Government Secret security clearance or, ability to obtain and maintain one

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Hands-on development and testing experience: FPGA, ARM processors, etc.
• Ability to take a product from concept through to production with little supervision
• Master's or PhD in electrical engineering or aerospace engineering
• Experience with requirements assessments and interface control document generation
• Creative, analytical, good at problem solving
• Ability to work on own initiative and to plan daily workflow to meet higher level tasks

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)

$144,275 - $190,675 USD

$124,000 - $155,000 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 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.

As set forth in Rocket Lab Corporation's Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.