Senior Systems Engineer II - Mission Architecture

ABOUT ROCKET LABRocket 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.

SPACE SYSTEMSAt 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.

SENIOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER II – MISSION ARCHITECTURE Based out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA the Senior Systems Engineer II is responsible for leading the formulation of all new satellite systems, supporting capture of new civil, national security, and commercial business. You will manage the development and maintenance of technical budgets, requirements definition, test planning and execution, and overall management of the systems engineering process, including validation of customer requirements.

You will support the Vice President of Business Development and Strategy and the broader Space Systems Business Development organization, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

Lead Rocket Lab’s satellite engineering formulation supporting business development and new opportunity capture

Develop and maintain:

Technical budgets for vehicle performance

System requirements and verification techniques

Simulations and analysis across vehicle functions

Test methods and data analysis

Lead and own technical development of spacecraft missions

Assist with program and product management

Develop, in collaboration with team members, interface specifications, CONOPS definition, and other design documents

Work directly with customers and our internal leadership team to shape requirements and write the core architecture for key proposals YOU’LL BRING THESE

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical engineering discipline)8+ years of experience in the aerospace industry

Experience supporting satellite and/or spacecraft development programs

Active TS/SCI clearance THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

Master’s or PhD in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical engineering discipline)
Understanding of key spacecraft subsystems and their associated components, including: attitude determination and control (ADCS), electrical power systems (EPS), space-ground communications, on-orbit command and data handling (C&DH), and thermal control

Thorough understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics

Highly effective and professional verbal and written communication skills with team and internal/external customers

Previous experience with proposals and tech volume authorship

Experience with MATLAB, Python, and…