Senior Harness Design Engineer I Verified today

About the Role

Based in Long Beach, CA, you will design, develop, and integrate electrical harnesses for Rocket Lab spacecraft. You will define interfaces, select components, specify split locations and lengths, and generate design documentation to support the spacecraft engineering team. You will collaborate with systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and assembly, integration, and test (AIT) teams to ensure seamless integration of harness systems into our spacecraft.

What You'll Do

Harness Design and Development

• Design and develop electrical harness systems for spacecraft, including connector and backshell selection, wire selection, shielding, and routing.
• Generate wiring diagrams, pinout tables, and interface definitions for harness systems based on spacecraft interconnect diagrams.
• Create and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) for harness systems in the product lifecycle management (PLM) tool.
• Develop and maintain fabrication drawings and documentation for harness systems using tools such as Capital Essentials, NX, and Teamcenter.
• Support harness fabrication processes, ensuring compliance with space-grade standards and industry best practices.
• Define and verify harness acceptance criteria, including electrical testing and inspection.

Electrical Engineering and Integration

• Perform electrical design and analysis to ensure harness systems meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements.
• Support electrical system schematics and harness design documentation.
• Collaborate with systems engineering to interpret system architecture and define electrical interfaces.
• Participate in design reviews, providing technical input and ensuring harness designs meet program requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve electrical issues related to harness systems during fabrication, integration, and testing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure proper integration of harnesses into spacecraft.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, or other engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of electrical engineering or avionics experience.
• U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements.

Desirable Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, or other engineering discipline.
• Experience in the aerospace and defense industry.
• Experience supporting satellite development programs and satellite operations.
• Proficiency in electrical engineering principles, including power distribution, signal integrity, grounding, and communication systems (e.g., RS-422, SPI, Ethernet, CAN bus).
• Experience with harness design tools such as Capital Essentials, NX, and Teamcenter.
• Familiarity with industry standards for harness design and fabrication (e.g., NASA-STD-8739.4, IPC/WHMA-A-620).
• Experience with electrical testing of harness systems, including continuity testing, insulation resistance testing, and functional testing.
• Knowledge of thermal and mechanical considerations for harness routing and integration.
• Familiarity with requirement management tools such as JAMA.
• Ability to obtain a Top Secret Clearance.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with competing priorities.

Compensation and Benefits

Total Compensation (Base and Equity): $144,275 to $206,175 USD

Base Salary: $124,000 to $170,500 USD

You will receive company stock as part of your total compensation package. Benefits include an Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% discount), medical plans (HMO, PPO, zero cost HDHP with HSA contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) with company match, subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, and employee discounts.

Working Conditions

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, with occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.