Senior Electrical Engineer II Verified today
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, and expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Space Systems and Optical Systems
Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, including interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security initiatives. We deliver solutions across all orbital domains and environments.
The Role
As a Senior Electrical Engineer II based in Chantilly, VA, you will support the development and test of avionics hardware for electro-optical 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.
What You Will Do
Hardware Design and Architecture
- Own complete lifecycle of avionics hardware for command and control of electro-optical systems
- Lead architecture decisions to advance EO sensor capabilities across LEO, GEO, and Cis-Lunar missions
- Design and integrate complex electronics including FPGA, microcontroller, low-noise ADC/DAC, and VPX systems at CCA/module level
- Develop Payload level designs integrating motor controllers, processing units, imagers, and cryptographic devices
- Perform schematic capture and PCBA layout using Altium Designer
Requirements and Verification
- Develop PCBA requirements through cross-functional collaboration with systems, mechanical, thermal, optical and software teams
- Plan and execute design verification testing and system integration testing
- Own environmental qualification programs including EMI/EMC, TVAC, shock, vibration, and other mission-specific tests
- Support failure analysis and root-cause investigations for units in test, integration, or on-orbit operations
Leadership and Collaboration
- Provide technical oversight and mentorship to junior engineers and support staff
- Interface with suppliers, manufacturing partners, and internal stakeholders
- Support production manufacturing including DFM reviews, yield improvement, and process optimization
- Participate in design reviews and present technical recommendations to leadership
What You Will Bring
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or other engineering discipline
- 8+ years of electrical hardware design experience
- Ability to develop blank sheet of paper design concepts
- Experience in PCBA design with FPGAs
- Knowledge of processors, FPGAs, switch mode power supplies, communication interfaces and analog instrumentation
- Strong background in analog electronics design
- Proficiency performing circuit analyses using SPICE and Excel
- U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
Nice to Have
- Master's or PhD in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or other engineering discipline
- Proficiency with basic electronic lab equipment (power supplies, oscilloscopes, DMMs, signal generators, soldering irons)
- Experience designing electronics for space environments, including radiation impacts and mitigation (SEU/SEL)
- Experience designing for high-reliability aerospace applications (TVAC, Shock, Vibe)
- Experience with EMI/EMC testing
- Proficiency with Altium Designer in schematic capture and layout
- Proficiency with PCBA verification and validation
- Experience designing rigid-flex PCBs and electromechanical design familiarity
- Experience with FPGA design and embedded software development for ARM core processors
- Demonstrated success in working in dynamic environments and managing competing priorities
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary range (VA): $134,300 to $201,350 USD. Compensation includes company stock or cash incentives, Employee Stock Purchase Program, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, paid parental leave, and other discounts and perks.
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.