Senior Space Robotics Systems Lead

Rocket Lab; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grant

Employee stock purchase program

Stock discounts

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer II for its Space Systems team in Pasadena to lead complex robotic systems across the development lifecycle. You will own system architecture, requirements, interfaces, and verification methods, interfacing across mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing groups.

The role requires hands-on integration and troubleshooting of robotics hardware and software, including ROS/ROS2, and collaboration with customers to ensure successful delivery of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, software, robotics, systems engineering, or related.
• 8+ years engineering experience developing, integrating, or delivering robotic, mechatronic, or complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience as a technical lead, cognizant engineer, project engineer, or system owner.
• Demonstrated experience across the full development lifecycle: requirements development, integration, and verification/validation.
• Hands-on experience integrating and troubleshooting robotics hardware and software.
• Experience coordinating software, controls, electrical, and mechanical teams to deliver integrated robotic systems.
• US citizenship required due to program requirements.

Responsibilities

• Act as the project technical lead or cognizant engineer for complex robotic systems and major subsystems.
• Own system architecture, requirements, interfaces, verification methods, and acceptance criteria throughout the development lifecycle.
• Develop, decompose, and manage system requirements and ICDs with traceability from customer needs to subsystem specs.
• Lead cross-functional technical execution and drive major technical decisions, risks, and issue closure.
• Define and manage hardware–software interfaces, communication architectures, operating modes, fault responses, and system behaviors.
• Lead integration and troubleshooting of robotic hardware, controls software, ROS/ROS2 applications, sensors, actuators, and test systems.
• Plan and lead system integration, verification, validation, qualification, and acceptance activities.
• Lead formal technical reviews and present status to customers and leadership.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and provide guidance on systems engineering and robotics integration.
• Support program management with technical inputs to schedule, risk, and cost/effort estimates.

Skills

Technical leadership

Systems engineering

Robotics integration

Requirements management

Hardware-software interfaces

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace/mechanical/electrical/ software/ robotics/ systems engineering

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Python

C++

MATLAB

Job description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer II for its Space Systems team in Pasadena to lead complex robotic systems across the development lifecycle. You will own system architecture, requirements, interfaces, and verification methods, interfacing across mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing groups.

The role requires hands-on integration and troubleshooting of robotics hardware and software, including ROS/ROS2, and collaboration with customers to ensure successful delivery of