Principal Electrical Engineer Verified today

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine.

The Role

As Principal Electrical Engineer at our Optical Systems site in Chantilly, VA, you will support the development and test of avionics hardware for electro-optical (EO) systems. 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.

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 while mentoring engineering teams
• Establish standards for schematic capture and PCBA layout in Altium Designer, ensuring quality and reliability through critical design reviews

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), ensuring compliance with standards
• 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, yield optimization, and process innovation
• Lead critical design reviews and deliver high-impact technical recommendations to executive leadership

Your Qualifications

• Master's in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent advanced experience)
• 12+ years of progressive electrical hardware design experience in aerospace or related high-reliability industries, with demonstrated technical leadership on complex programs
• Proven ability to architect and deliver 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 a track record of delivering high-performance, low-noise solutions for aerospace applications
• High proficiency in circuit analysis and simulation using SPICE, MATLAB, and other 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 for complex system bring-up and troubleshooting
• 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

Compensation

Base salary range: $173,300 to $259,850 USD (Virginia only). Base salary is one part of our compensation package. You may be eligible for company stock, cash incentives, and can purchase discounted stock through our Employee Stock Purchase Program. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.

Work Environment

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.