Principal Electrical Engineer Verified today
About the role
You will support development and test of avionics hardware for electro-optical (EO) systems at Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, AZ. Working across disciplines, you will lead all aspects of electrical hardware development from requirements through design, prototyping, fabrication, testing, and production.
Hardware Design and Architecture
- Provide technical leadership for the full lifecycle of avionics hardware for advanced electro-optical systems
- Drive system architecture and technology roadmaps for EO sensors across all orbital domains
- Oversee design and integration of complex electronics (FPGA, microcontroller, ADC/DAC, VPX) at system and module levels
- Architect and review payload-level designs, integrating motor controllers, processing units, imagers, and cryptographic devices
- Mentor engineering teams and ensure compliance with industry standards and security requirements
- Establish standards for schematic capture and PCBA layout in Altium Designer
Requirements and Verification
- Lead PCBA requirements development through cross-functional collaboration
- Establish and oversee verification, validation, and integration test strategies
- Direct environmental qualification programs (EMI/EMC, TVAC, shock, vibration)
- Provide technical leadership and sign-off for failure analysis and root-cause investigations
Leadership and Collaboration
- Provide strategic technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams
- Build and manage key relationships with suppliers, manufacturing partners, and executive stakeholders
- Drive production manufacturing initiatives, leading DFM strategy and yield optimization
- Lead critical design reviews and deliver technical recommendations to executive leadership
What you'll bring
- Master's in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent advanced experience)
- 12+ years of progressive electrical hardware design experience in aerospace or high-reliability industries
- Demonstrated technical leadership on complex programs
- Proven ability to architect innovative design solutions for mission-critical aerospace systems
- Extensive experience in advanced PCBA design including high-speed digital and mixed-signal circuits with FPGAs, ASICs, and microcontrollers
- Deep expertise in FPGA architecture and embedded software development for ARM-based systems
- Deep expertise in system-level integration of processors, FPGAs, switch mode power supplies, high-speed communication interfaces, and precision analog instrumentation
- Strong analog electronics design with track record of high-performance, low-noise aerospace solutions
- High proficiency in circuit analysis and simulation using SPICE, MATLAB, and industry-standard tools
- Extensive experience architecting electronics for space environments with deep knowledge of radiation effects (SEU/SEL) and mitigation strategies
- Leadership in PCBA verification, validation, and qualification for flight hardware
- Expert in advanced electronic lab instrumentation and hands-on prototyping
- U.S. citizenship required due to government and program security requirements
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance
Nice to have
- Proven track record designing high-reliability aerospace hardware for extreme environments (TVAC, shock, vibration)
- Advanced expertise in EMI/EMC compliance, testing, and mitigation for aerospace systems
- Mastery of Altium Designer for schematic capture, multi-layer PCB layout, and design reviews
- Experience designing rigid-flex PCBs and integrating electromechanical systems
- Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance
Working conditions
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.