Senior Harness Design Engineer I Verified today

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. The Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions including interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security initiatives, with spacecraft and components flown to the Moon and Mars.

The Role

Based in Long Beach, CA, you will design, develop, and integrate electrical harnesses for spacecraft. You will define interfaces, select components, specify split locations and lengths, and generate design documentation. You will collaborate with systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and assembly, integration, and test (AIT) teams to ensure seamless integration 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 based on spacecraft interconnect diagrams.
• Collaborate with systems engineering to interpret system architecture and define electrical interfaces.
• Create and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) 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 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or other engineering discipline.
• Experience in the aerospace/defense industry.
• Experience supporting satellite development programs and operations.
• Proficiency in electrical engineering principles including power distribution, signal integrity, grounding, and communication systems (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 (NASA-STD-8739.4, IPC/WHMA-A-620).
• Experience with electrical testing of harness systems including continuity, insulation resistance, 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 only): $132,000-$198,000 USD. Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Total compensation includes company stock. 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, 50% employee discount on merchandise, and other employee discounts.

Employment Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including ITAR, employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce.

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.