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Senior Harness Design Engineer I Verified today

Rocket Lab · Long Beach, CA · Electronics · first seen 2026-10-29
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About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions for NASA, the Space Development Agency, U.S. Space Force, and commercial partners, including spacecraft and components for missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Role

Based in Long Beach, CA, you will design, develop, and integrate electrical harnesses for our spacecraft. This includes defining interfaces, selecting components, specifying split locations and lengths, and generating design documentation. You'll collaborate with systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and assembly, integration, and test (AIT) teams to ensure seamless integration of harness systems into 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.
  • Collaborate with systems engineering to interpret system architecture and define electrical interfaces.
  • Create and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) for harness systems in the product lifecycle management (PLM) tool.
  • Develop and maintain fabrication drawings and documentation using 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.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure proper integration of harnesses into spacecraft.

Electrical Engineering:

  • Perform electrical design and analysis to ensure harness systems meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements.
  • Support electrical system schematics and harness design documentation.
  • 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.

Required Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

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

Compensation and Benefits

Base pay range (CA): $132,000-$198,000 USD. Compensation includes company stock as part of the total compensation package. Benefits include an Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount, medical plans (HMO, PPO, zero-cost HDHP with HSA company 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, 50% employee discount on merchandise, and various other employee discounts.

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.