Senior Systems Engineer I/II - Secret Clearance

Segment (Twilio); Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Tucson, AZ, seeks a Senior Systems Engineer I/II to design, develop, and test space-based electro-optical sensors and payloads. You will manage budgets, requirements, test plans, and deliver mission features for airborne and space platforms.

The role demands active US citizenship, a Secret clearance, and experience across development programs, system modeling, and interfaces, with leadership responsibilities on development teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical engineering discipline.
• Active clearance and 5+ years in aerospace, with 2+ years on development projects and 1+ year in leadership.
• Strong knowledge of requirements management and modeling tools (JAMA, Doors, Cameo).
• Experience with space or airborne instrument systems and development programs.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Preferred: TS/SCI clearance, advanced degree, and Cameo/MATLAB/Simulink.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, and develop space-based optical instruments and payloads for airborne/space platforms.
• Develop and maintain budgets, requirements, verification methods, simulations, analysis, and test data.
• Provide technical oversight of system architecture, interfaces, mission assurance, and compliance.
• Assist with program and product management, interface specs, and CONOPS definitions.
• Support development and testing of space payloads to be integrated on spacecraft.
• Travel or work off-site as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Systems engineering

Leadership

Requirements management

Space/aerospace domain knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a technical engineering discipline

Tools

JAMA

Doors

Cameo

MATLAB

Simulink

Job description

Senior Systems Engineer I/II – Secret Clearance

As a Senior Systems Engineer based at our Optical Systems site in Tucson, AZ, you will design, develop, and test space‑based electro‑optical sensors. You will manage technical budgets, requirements, test planning, and deliver mission features.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, and develop space‑based optical instruments, subsystems, and payloads for airborne and space platforms.
• Develop and maintain technical budgets, system requirements, verification techniques, simulations, analysis, test methods, and data analysis.
• Provide technical oversight of system architecture, interfaces, mission assurance, and compliance.
• Assist with program and product management, interface specifications, CONOPS definition, and other design documents.
• Support development and testing of space payloads to be integrated on spacecraft platforms.
• Travel or work off‑site as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Eligibility

U.S. citizenship required. Active security clearance (Secret) required. U.S. employment only; if seeking to work in New Zealand, must be eligible under ITAR regulations.

Qualifications – Senior Systems Engineer I

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical engineering discipline.
• Active clearance and 5+ years of aerospace industry experience, including 2+ years on development projects and 1+ year in project/team leadership.
• Strong knowledge of technical documents, requirements management, and modeling tools (JAMA, Doors, Cameo).
• Demonstrated systems engineering experience in space or airborne instruments.
• Experience supporting development programs.
• U.S. citizenship required.

Qualifications – Senior Systems Engineer II

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical engineering discipline.
• Active clearance and 8+ years of aerospace industry experience, including 3+ years in development projects and 2+ years in leadership.
• CAM and/or IPTL experience.
• Strong knowledge of technical documents, aerospace standards, and regulations.
• Experience in requirements management, system modeling, and supporting development programs.
• Familiarity with aerospace industry standards, regulations, and practices.
• U.S. citizenship required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Master’s or PhD.
• EO/IR payload integration experience.
• Proficiency with system modeling and analysis tools such as Cameo, MATLAB, Simulink.
• Experience with space environments testing regimes (vibration, shock, radiation, thermal, EMI, corrosion).
• Experience with Software Development Lifecycle.
• Knowledge of hardware interfaces and communications protocols.
• Hands‑on troubleshooting and resolution of system‑level issues.
• Experience working with minimal supervision.
• Background in astronomy, physics, or remote sensing.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. Hiring, promotion, termination, compensation, and training are non‑discriminatory. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation may contact an HR representative. NZ applicants must meet ITAR eligibility.