Senior Integration & Test Engineer I 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, expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The Role
Based in Pasadena, CA, you will be responsible for the integration, test, and verification of flight mechatronic and motion systems, including motor control electronics, actuators, motors, and mechanisms, from component level through subsystem and spacecraft integration. You will also develop, maintain, and upgrade test systems for this hardware.
What You'll Do
- Lead and own integration and test campaigns for flight motion systems at various levels of assembly, from actuators and mechanisms through subsystem and spacecraft
- Integrate and test motor control electronics with motors, actuators, and mechanisms, including closed-loop performance characterization (torque, speed, position, and current loop behavior)
- Work collaboratively with design, controls, and systems engineers to define requirements, verification and validation (V&V) plans, and requirements compliance
- Develop and present materials for customer and company stakeholder reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR
- Develop acceptance, qualification, and R&D test plans and procedures for flight mechanisms and motion systems
- Plan and execute environmental qualification and acceptance testing (Vibe, Shock, TVAC, Thermal, EMI/EMC), including functional and performance testing before, during, and after environmental exposure
- Develop, maintain, and operate mechanical and electrical ground support equipment, such as motor/load test stands, dynamometers, and test fixtures
- Develop and maintain test automation and data acquisition for motion systems; interface with ground test software and implement flight software configuration changes
- Lead investigations into anomalous mechanism and motor control behavior, driving root cause and corrective action
- Interface with hardware-in-the-loop test systems
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, mechatronics, aerospace, or other engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience in a test engineering or other hands-on engineering role
- Hands-on mechatronics experience integrating and testing motor control electronics, motors, actuators, or mechanisms
- Working knowledge of brushless DC, permanent magnet synchronous, or stepper motors, their drive electronics, and feedback sensors such as encoders, resolvers, and Hall sensors
- Experience with environmental testing, such as thermal vacuum or random vibration testing
- Proficiency with C, C++, Python, or MATLAB and Windows 10 and Microsoft Office products
- Experience in writing technical documentation, such as procedures, reports, and requirements
- U.S. citizenship due to program requirements
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience integrating and testing flight systems for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or other aerospace platforms
- Experience with precision motion systems, such as gimbals, robotic arms, pointing mechanisms, deployment mechanisms, or reaction wheels
- Experience on hardware that has completed formal qualification and acceptance testing and a full V&V lifecycle
- Understanding of control systems fundamentals and motor control techniques, such as field-oriented control and current, velocity, and position loop tuning
- Experience working in a clean room and with ESD-sensitive equipment
- Hands-on experience using electrical test equipment (PSU, Oscilloscope, DMM, Power Analyzer, Current Probes)
- Exposure to designing and implementing test systems for electromechanical hardware
- Understanding of sensors, signal conditioning and data acquisition electronics
- Experience with 3D CAD and ECAD software, preferably SolidWorks and Altium
- Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing
Compensation
Base salary: $108,800 to $136,000 USD. Total compensation (base and equity): $129,075 to $171,675 USD. Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package includes company stock as part of total compensation, Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount, top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and zero cost HDHP with company 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 company 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.