Senior Space Payload Systems Engineer II

Rocket Lab; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Tucson, AZ is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer II to join the Optical Systems group on mission‑critical payload projects. You will help shape the electrical architecture, define requirements, and coordinate across hardware, software, and firmware teams to ensure robust installations.

The role emphasizes system-level verification, interface control, and mission assurance practices within a high‑impact aerospace environment. Candidate will engage with internal and external partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, systems, or aerospace engineering, or other technical discipline.
• 8+ years of engineering experience, including 3+ years supporting development programs and 2+ years in technical leadership, CAM, IPTL, or equivalent role
• Demonstrated systems engineering experience with emphasis on electrical architecture, subsystem integration, and controls focused development
• Strong electrical engineering background supporting complex aerospace, payload, avionics, or instrument systems
• Experience developing system requirements, interface definitions, and verification approaches for complex systems
• Strong background in electrical interfaces, control functions, avionics integration, or subsystem architecture
• Experience with requirements management and modeling tools such as JAMA, DOORS, Cameo, or similar tools
• Experience working across hardware, software, and firmware development throughout the lifecycle
• Familiarity with command and telemetry interfaces, power architectures, signal interfaces, timing, synchronization, and control logic
• Experience supporting integration and test, including troubleshooting electrical or controls-related issues at the subsystem or system level
• Strong ability to read, interpret, and develop electrical, interface, and system technical documentation
• Familiarity with aerospace development standards, environmental testing, and mission assurance practices

Responsibilities

• Support the development of system architecture for space-based optical instruments, subsystems, and payloads on airborne and space platforms, with emphasis on electrical architecture and controls integration
• Define, decompose, and manage system requirements with focus on electrical behavior, control functions, subsystem interactions, and overall system performance
• Develop and maintain technical documentation including architecture descriptions, interface control documents, electrical interface definitions, concepts of operations, state and mode descriptions, test plans, and verification artifacts
• Support development of electrical and functional architectures, including command and telemetry flow, power distribution, control logic, signal paths, timing, synchronization, and subsystem interaction
• Collaborate with hardware, software, firmware, and test teams to ensure the electrical architecture and controls implementation align with system requirements and mission intent
• Support the development, integration, and testing of space payloads to be integrated on spacecraft platforms
• Support hardware and software development teams with system-level test planning, debugging, integration, and execution of verification procedures; analyze data and recommend design refinements
• Participate in hardware and software verification and validation activities related to system behavior, electrical performance, controls implementation, and interface compliance
• Support architecture trades involving sensors, motor control, embedded electronics, power systems, command and data handling, and subsystem interfaces
• Participate in technical interchange meetings and project discussions with internal teams, customers, and external partners as needed
• Identify, assess, and help mitigate technical risks related to electrical architecture, controls implementation, and subsystem integration
• Support travel or off-site work as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Electrical architecture

Subsystem integration

Controls development

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, systems, or aerospace engineering

Tools

JAMA

DOORS

Cameo

Job description

Rocket Lab in Tucson, AZ is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer II to join the Optical Systems group on mission‑critical payload projects. You will help shape the electrical architecture, define requirements, and coordinate across hardware, software, and firmware teams to ensure robust installations.

The role emphasizes system-level verification, interface control, and mission assurance practices within a high‑impact aerospace environment. Candidate will engage with internal and external partners.