Senior HITL Technician I

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock Purchase Program

Medical plans

Dental and Vision plans

Paid vacation and sick time

HSA company contribution

Employee discounts

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA seeks a Senior HITL Technician I to design, maintain, and operate HITL systems at our Long Beach, CA headquarters. You will fabricate harnessing, build HITL racks, and work hands-on with test and flight hardware while collaborating across engineering, test, and spacecraft teams.

Responsibilities include rack layout feedback, prototype rack design iteration, and maintaining technical docs. U.S. citizenship is required for program compliance.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in harness fabrication, rack assembly, or similar tech environment.
• Hands-on experience with harness manufacturing, rack assembly, and rack integration.
• Contribute to rack layout, equipment arrangement, cable routing, harness integration, and build activities.
• Ability to follow quality inspection and manufacturing work instructions.
• Ability to read system diagrams, schematics, CAD drawings, ICDs, procedures, and docs.
• Experience performing harness and rack electrical checks (continuity, pinout, visual).
• Understand standard industry ESD practices.
• Work with engineering/tech teams and raise concerns early.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate, assemble, and test high-quality, reliable harnessing.
• Build, integrate, and modify HITL test racks and install equipment.
• Work hands-on with test and flight hardware.
• Collaborate to build and improve HITL test and simulation systems.
• Contribute to equipment rack layout and buildability feedback.
• Prototype rack designs with engineering and spacecraft teams.
• Maintain and redline documentation (diagrams, schematics, ICDs, procedures).
• Identify rack/harness risks during design, build, integration.

Skills

Harness fabrication

Rack assembly

Test systems

Electrical checks

Read schematics/diagrams

Quality inspection

ESD practices

Team collaboration

U.S. citizenship

Tools

DMMs

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Job description

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

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 HITL TECHNICIAN I

Based out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior HITL Technician I is responsible for designing, maintaining, and operating hardware in the loop (HITL) systems. You will support the HITL Manager, Shared Services and Space Systems organization with deliverables requested by internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Fabricate, assemble, and test high-quality, high-reliability harnessing
• Build, integrate, and modify HITL test racks, including equipment installation, cable routing, harness integration, and basic checkout
• Work hands-on with test and flight hardware
• Collaborate with a cross-disciplinary team to build, set up, maintain, and improve HITL test and simulation systems for Rocket Lab spacecraft systems or similar complex systems
• Contribute to equipment rack layout and arrangement, including equipment placement and buildability feedback
• Build, modify, and iterate prototype rack designs in collaboration with engineering, test, and spacecraft teams
• Use, maintain, and redline technical documentation via system diagrams, schematics, ICDs, procedures, and test/anomaly reports
• Identify and communicate rack and harnessing buildability, maintainability, serviceability, and integration risks during design, build, and integration activities

QUALIFICATIONS YOU'LL BRING AS SENIOR HITL TECHNICIAN I:

• 8+ years of relevant industry experience in harness fabrication, rack assembly, test systems, or a similar technical environment
• Hands-on experience with harness manufacturing, rack assembly, and rack integration
• Proven ability to contribute to rack layout, equipment arrangement, cable routing, harness integration, and build activities
• Ability to precisely follow quality inspection and manufacturing work instructions
• Proficiency in reading, interpreting, and providing feedback on system diagrams, schematics, CAD drawings, ICDs, procedures, and manufacturing documentation
• Experience performing harness and rack electrical checks, including continuity, pinout, and visual inspection
• Sound understanding of standard industry ESD practices
• Ability to work collaboratively across engineering and technician teams while raising buildability, integration, or test concerns early
• U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Trade qualification in a relevant industry
• Experience creating technical documentation, including system diagrams, schematics, CAD drawings, ICDs, procedures, and test/anomaly reports
• Familiarity with common electrical test equipment such as DMMs, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or similar tools
• Experience with network devices, Ethernet cabling, fiber debugging, servers, routers, switches, or PLCs
• Basic Python and Linux scripting skills
• Precision soldering experience
• Exposure to spacecraft systems, HITL/PIL environments, or similarly complex autonomous systems
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, and standard web-based applications
• Strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, self-motivation, and ability to work under deadline pressure
• TS/SCI Clearance

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Stand and walkextended periods (8+ hours) on production floor
• Perform repetitive motions including grasping, bending, twisting, reaching, pushing, and pulling
• Operate equipment and controls requiring manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
• Lift, carry, push, and pull materials up to 25 lbs
• Work in aproductionenvironment with noise, moving machinery, and varyingenvironmentalconditions
• Flexibility to work extended hours, weekends, and varied shifts as operational needs require

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.

Important information:

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.

Hourly Pay Range (CA Only)

$37—$47 USD

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 salary is just one component of our total rewards package at Rocket Lab. 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.

Eligibility for benefits may vary based on employment status, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role. Benefit programs are subject to change at the company's discretion.