Senior Flight Software Engineer I​/II - Secret Clearance

Senior Flight Software Engineer I/II - Secret Clearance

Long Beach, CA

Rocket Lab is an end‑to‑end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more. Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit. We are developing Neutron, our upcoming medium‑lift, reusable launch vehicle, and our Space Systems business designs and builds satellites, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon, Mars, and national security initiatives.

We are seeking a Senior Flight Software Engineer I/II for our Space Systems team based out of headquarters in Long Beach, CA. In this role you will support the development of flight software for our Space Systems programs, participating in all aspects of software design and development from requirements definition through coding and testing. Your software will be flown on orbit within weeks and months, providing you with rapid, high‑impact results.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Develop application software to run within a Real Time Operating System (RTOS) and/or embedded Linux.
• Develop hardware drivers to interface with Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), Star Trackers, Reaction Wheels and other spacecraft sensors and actuators.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive unit tests to run within a Continuous Integration framework.
• Collaborate with hardware‑in‑the‑loop test engineers to verify and validate combined software and hardware functionality.
• Collaborate with systems engineers and embedded systems engineers in developing, documenting and validating requirements.
• Participate in review of source code changes and ensure all changes meet company coding standards.
• Participate in design reviews such as a PDR and CDR.
• Assist with on‑orbit (and interplanetary) flight operations.

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Please note:

This position can be hired at the Senior Flight Software Engineer I or Senior Flight Software Engineer II level.)

QUALIFICATIONS YOU’LL BRING AS SENIOR FLIGHT SOFTWARE ENGINEER I:

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or equivalent technical degree.
• 5+ years of demonstrated applicable experience in embedded software development.
• Proficiency in C and C++ languages.
• Experience with Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS) or Embedded Linux.
• U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS YOU’LL BRING AS SENIOR FLIGHT SOFTWARE ENGINEER II:

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or equivalent technical degree.
• 8+ years of demonstrated applicable experience in embedded software development.
• Proficiency in C and C++ languages.
• Experience with Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS) or Embedded Linux.
• U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Active TS/SCI security clearance.
• Advanced Degree.
• Experience developing software and drivers with CAN/CAN‑FD and/or UDP/TCP within an embedded system.
• Experience developing software for autonomous vehicles operating in harsh environments.

Base Pay Range (CA Only): $120,000 - $190,000 USD. At Rocket Lab, employees may also receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and sick leave, and other perks.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.