Senior Electrical Engineer I - Marine Operations

Rocket Lab Corporation; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 109,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grant

Employee stock purchase program

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Middle River, Maryland, seeks a Senior Electrical Engineer for Marine Operations to design power, navigation, controls, and communications systems for our recovery vessel Neutron.

Responsibilities include design reviews, onboard build-out, and regulatory compliance (ABS, USCG, IEC, NFPA, FCC). A Bachelor's in electrical or marine engineering and 3+ years in maritime engineering are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or marine engineering.
• 3+ years of experience as an electrical engineer in the maritime industry, with exposure to large vessels and autonomous/automated vessel systems.
• Technical project management experience and ability to liaise with external suppliers.
• Advanced understanding of systems design principles.
• Proficient in using EPLAN or comparable electrical CAD software for schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts.
• Ability to analyze systems, troubleshoot, and source equipment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as electrical engineering technical expert within the Marine Operations team for recovery and reusability of Neutron.
• Design electrical infrastructure including power, lighting, navigation, instrumentation, propulsion, and communications systems.
• Coordinate with other Rocket Lab engineers to ensure electrical systems are integrated with vessel systems.
• Ensure compliance with ABS, USCG, IEC, NFPA, FCC regulations.
• Lead design reviews and assess risks, resources, and schedules.
• Work onboard during construction to ensure build-out meets specs and implement future modifications.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Marine systems

Project management

Electrical CAD (EPLAN)

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical or marine engineering

Tools

EPLAN

CAD software

Siemens NX

Job description

Senior Electrical Engineer I - Marine Operations

Middle River, MD

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.

NEUTRON

Neutron is a medium-lift launch vehicle capable of delivering the mega constellations of tomorrow, high-assurance payloads, and human spaceflight. As a highly reusable launch platform, Neutron will provide a cost-effective and reliable launch solution by leveraging Rocket Lab’s proven execution history with the Electron program. If you’re interested in joining a high-performing team and pushing the boundaries with a clean-sheet development of a reusable liquid launch vehicle, this is your opportunity!

SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER – MARINE OPERATIONS

We are currently seeking an Electrical Engineer based out of Rocket Lab's Space Structures Complex in Middle River, Maryland. You will be responsible for the design, specification, analysis, and execution of power distribution, navigation systems, controls, and communications systems on our recovery vessel.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• Serve as the electrical engineering technical expert within the Marine Operations team, enabling recovery and reusability of Neutron
• Design critical electrical infrastructure, including schematics, layout, and routing for power, lighting, navigation, instrumentation, propulsion, and communications systems
• Coordinate with other Rocket Lab engineers to ensure electrical systems are well integrated with the other vessel systems
• Ensure all systems meet regulatory requirements (ABS, USCG, IEC, NFPA, FCC)
• Conduct design reviews to ensure systems meet requirements, identify risks, resource needs, and schedule estimates
• Work onboard the vessel during construction, ensuring build-out meets engineering specifications, and drive future modifications to enable more efficient mission execution
• Collaborate with the marine engineering group for commissioning and sea-trials test planning
• Troubleshoot and validate electrical systems during commissioning
• Oversee the operation, sustainment, troubleshooting, and repair of critical electrical power and control systems
• Build and manage electrical and electronic spares inventory and maintain minimum inventories of those onboard parts and components.

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or marine engineering
• 3+ years of experience as an electrical engineer, preferably in the maritime industry, with exposure to large vessels and autonomous or automated vessel systems
• Technical project management experience and the ability to liaise with external suppliers
• Advanced understanding of systems design principles
• Proficient in using EPLAN or comparable electrical CAD software for developing detailed schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts
• Advanced ability to analyze systems, troubleshoot and solve problems, and select and source equipment

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Project management experience in a fast-paced prototype environment
• Detailed knowledge of Siemens NX or similar CAD and PLM packages.
• Experience with hands-on projects, including the use of hand tools
• Knowledge of modern industrial communication protocols and network layers, including experience with Modbus (RTU/TCP), Profibus, Ethernet, and serial interfaces (RS-232/RS-485) for control systems
• Experience integrating marine components (hoists, thrusters, winches, radar, etc.)
• Valid and current training certifications as an Electrical or Electronic Technician issued by a recognized authority.
• At least two years of experience working on vessels of comparable size and mission duration, or in a similar industrial setting requiring equivalent qualifications and operational expertise.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

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 HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match, and free snacks/drinks onsite.

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)

$156,275 - $171,675 USD

$108,800 - $149,600 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.