Senior Electrical Engineer II

Senior Electrical Engineer II

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. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.

As a Senior Electrical Engineer II based at our Rocket Lab Optical Systems site in Chantilly, VA, you will have the opportunity to support the development and test of avionics hardware for our electro-optical (EO) systems. In this role 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.

To be successful in this role, you must be passionate about avionics electrical hardware design, with a willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment. Join a driven team of pioneers relentlessly tackling challenging projects, delivering on the impossible, and making an impact on the future of space!

The role's responsibilities

Hardware Design & 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 & 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 & Collaboration

• Provide technical oversight and mentorship to junior engineers and support staff (layout, analysis, test technicians)
• 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

You'll Bring These

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering; or other engineering discipline
• 8+ years…