Senior Electrical Engineer II

Rocket Lab Corp.; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 124,000 - 212,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock purchase

Medical plans (HMO/PPO)

Dental & Vision

11 paid holidays

Flexible spending accounts

Paid parental leave

Disability & life insurance

401(k) with match

EV charging subsidy

Onsite fitness centers

Gym membership discounts

Snacks & beverages

Merchandise discount

Stock purchase program

Job summary

Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA, seeks a Senior Electrical Engineer II to lead avionics hardware development for robotics programs. You’ll own hardware for robotics and motor control, drive FPGA/MCU architecture decisions, and collaborate across disciplines from concept to production.

The role requires a BS in electrical/computer engineering, 8+ years of hardware design, and experience with PCBA design using FPGAs and motor control.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical or computer engineering or related discipline.
• 8+ years of electrical hardware design experience.
• Ability to create design concepts from blank sheet of paper.
• Experience in PCBA design with FPGAs.
• Experience in motor control applications.
• Experience with analog signal chains.
• Proficient in SPICE circuit analyses.
• Proficient in board bring-up and debugging.

Responsibilities

• End to end ownership of hardware for robotics and motor control applications.
• Drive architecture decisions to advance control algorithms; work with FPGA and MCU systems.
• Develop PCBA requirements and perform design verification testing and system integration testing.
• Own environmental tests including EMI/EMC, TVAC, Shock, and Vibe.
• Schematic capture and PCB layout using Altium Designer.
• Mentor support engineers in layout, analysis, and test.
• Provide production manufacturing support as needed.
• Support failure analysis and root-cause investigations.

Skills

Electrical hardware design

FPGA & MCU systems

Motor control applications

Analog signal chains

SPICE analysis

PCB bring-up & debug

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical or computer engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

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.

SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER II

Rocket Lab Robotics specializes in high-performance robotic systems and precision mechanisms that enable the most ambitious space missions, including NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover and CADRE lunar rovers. Leveraging Mars-proven expertise from Motiv Space Systems, we deliver scalable, flight-proven solutions – such as robotic arms, motion control systems, and solar array drive assemblies (SADAs) – to support planetary exploration, satellite servicing, and national security missions.

Based at Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA, as the Senior Electrical Engineer II you will participate in the development and test of avionics hardware for our robotics programs. 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. We're looking for people who are passionate about robotics electrical hardware design, with a willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• End to end ownership of hardware for robotics and motor control applications
• Drive architecture decisions to advance our control algorithms
  • Work with FPGA and Micro-Controller systems
• Develop PCBA requirements in collaboration with other engineering disciplines
  • PCBA design verification testing and system integration testing
  • Own environmental tests including EMI/EMC, TVAC, Shock, Vibe, etc.
• Schematic capture and PCB layout using Altium Designer
• Oversight and mentorship of support engineers (layout, analysis, test, etc.)
• Production manufacturing support as needed
• Support failure analysis and root-cause investigation for units in test, integration, or on-orbit operation.

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical or computer engineering; or other engineering discipline
• 8+ years of electrical hardware design experience
• Able to develop "blank sheet of paper" design concepts
• Experience in PCBA design with FPGAs
• Experience in motor control applications
• Experience with analog signal chains
• Proficiency performing circuit analyses using SPICE
• Proficiency with board bring-up and debug

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Experience in FPGA firmware design with Verilog, specifically creating IP from scratch
• Experience with Field-Oriented-Control
• Experience with switch mode power supplies
• Experience designing electronics for space environments, including radiation impacts and mitigation including SEU/SEL impact and mitigation.
• Experience with environmental tests including TVAC, Shock, Vibe, etc.
• Experience with EMI/EMC testing
• Experience with Altium Designer in schematic capture and layout
• Proficiency with PCBA verification and validation
• Experience with Librero
• Experience with parametric analysis or sensitivity analysis or worst-case analysis
• Experience with Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
• Experience designing rigid-flex PCBs and electromechanical design
• Experience with modeling systems such as Simulink

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• U.S. citizenship required, due to program requirements

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.

Base Pay Range (CA Only)

$124,000 — $212,000 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 do not 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.