Senior Electrical Engineer II - Secret Clearance

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 ELECTRICAL ENGINEER II

Based at Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Electrical Engineer II will participate in the development and test of avionics hardware for our spacecraft programs. You will work collaboratively with engineers of various disciplines and participate in all aspects of electrical hardware development, from requirements definition through design, prototyping, fabrication, testing, and production. As an engineer on the spacecraft development team, you will have frequent opportunities to test and operate your systems on-orbit. We're looking for people who are passionate about spacecraft electrical hardware design, with a willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

- Develop PCBA requirements in collaboration with other engineering disciplines

- Schematic capture and PCB layout using Altium Designer

- Circuit analysis, including power, tolerance, and reliability related

- PCBA design verification testing and system integration testing

- Production manufacturing support as needed

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER II:

- Bachelor’s degree in electrical or computer engineering; or other engineering discipline

- 8+ years of electrical hardware design experience, including schematic capture and PCB layout

- A strong background in analog electronics design

- Proficiency performing circuit analyses in SPICE and Excel

- Proficiency with Altium Designer for schematic capture and layout of complex PCBs

- Knowledge with processors, FPGAs, switch mode power supplies, communication interfaces and analog instrumentation

- Active Secret Clearance with ability to obtain a TS/SCI

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

- Master’s or PhD in electrical or computer engineering; or other engineering discipline

- Proficiency with basic electronic lab equipment such as power supplies, oscilloscopes, DMMs, signal generators, soldering irons, etc.

- Experience designing for space environments, including radiation impacts and mitigation

- Experience designing for high-reliability aerospace applications

- Experience designing rigid-flex PCBs and electromechanical design familiarity in general

- Experience with FPGA design and embedded software development for ARM core processors

- Demonstrated success working in a dynamic environment and ability to manage competing priorities

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas. Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In additi