Senior Space Motion Systems Test Engineer

Rocketlab; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Medical plans

Dental & Vision

Paid vacation & sick time

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Pasadena, CA is seeking a Senior Integration & Test Engineer I to lead integration, test, and verification of flight mechatronic and motion systems from component to spacecraft level. You will develop test systems, support senior staff, and report to leadership.

You will collaborate across design, controls, and systems teams, define verification plans, and contribute to customer reviews while ensuring robust environmental testing and data-driven results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, mechatronics, aerospace, or other engineering degree.
• 5+ years of experience in a test engineering or other hands‑on engineering role.
• Hands‑on mechatronics experience integrating and testing motor control electronics, motors, actuators, or mechanisms.
• Working knowledge of brushless DC, permanent magnet synchronous, or stepper motors, their drive electronics, and feedback sensors such as encoders, resolvers, and Hall sensors.
• Experience with environmental testing, such as thermal vacuum or random vibration testing.
• Proficiency with C, C++, Python, or MATLAB; and Windows 10 and Microsoft Office products.
• U.S. citizenship due to program requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and own integration and test campaigns for flight motion systems at various levels of assembly, from actuators and mechanisms through subsystem and spacecraft
• Integrate and test motor control electronics with motors, actuators, and mechanisms, including closed-loop performance characterization
• Work collaboratively with design, controls, and systems engineers to define requirements, as well as verification and validation plans and requirements compliance
• Develop and present materials for customer and company stakeholder reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR
• Develop acceptance, qualification, and R&D test plans and procedures for flight mechanisms and motion systems
• Plan and execute environmental qualification and acceptance testing, including functional and performance testing
• Develop, maintain, and operate ground test equipment such as motor/load test stands, dynamometers, and test fixtures
• Develop and maintain test automation and data acquisition for motion systems

Skills

Mechatronics

Motor control electronics

C/C++/Python

Oscilloscope

DMM

Education

Engineering degree (Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Aerospace)

Tools

Power supply (PSU)

Oscilloscope

DMM

Power Analyzer

Current Probes

Job description

Rocket Lab in Pasadena, CA is seeking a Senior Integration & Test Engineer I to lead integration, test, and verification of flight mechatronic and motion systems from component to spacecraft level. You will develop test systems, support senior staff, and report to leadership.

You will collaborate across design, controls, and systems teams, define verification plans, and contribute to customer reviews while ensuring robust environmental testing and data-driven results.