Senior Systems Engineer II

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. 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 Robotics specializes in high-performance robotic systems and precision mechanisms that enable the most ambitious space missions, including NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover and CADRE lunar rovers. Leveraging Mars-proven expertise from Motiv Space Systems, we deliver scalable, flight-proven solutions - such as robotic arms, motion control systems, and solar array drive assemblies (SADAs) - to support planetary exploration, satellite servicing, and national security missions.

We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer II to serve as the project technical lead or cognizant engineer for complex aerospace robotic systems. You will work at the intersection of mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing teams, translating customer mission needs into robust, testable system solutions. This role owns the system technical definition, requirements implementation, hardware-software integration, verification, and delivery while providing technical direction across mechanical, electrical, software, controls, manufacturing, and/or test teams.

• Act as the project technical lead or cognizant engineer for complex robotic systems and major subsystems.
• Own system architecture, requirements, interfaces, verification methods, and acceptance criteria throughout the development lifecycle.
• Develop, decompose, and manage system requirements and interface control documents (ICDs), maintaining traceability from customer/mission needs down to subsystem and component specifications.
• Lead cross-functional technical execution and drive major technical decisions, trades, risks, and issue closure.
• Define and manage hardware-software interfaces, communication architectures, operating modes, fault responses, and system behaviors.
• Lead integration and troubleshooting of robotic hardware, controls software, ROS/ROS2 applications, sensors, actuators, and test systems.
• Develop and maintain CONOPS, system requirements, ICDs, technical budgets, verification plans, and technical decision records.
• Plan and lead system integration, verification, validation, qualification, and acceptance activities.
• Lead formal technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and acceptance reviews and present technical status to customers and leadership.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and provide technical guidance on systems engineering and robotics integration.
• Support program management with technical inputs to schedule, risk, and cost/effort estimates.

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, software, robotics, systems engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of engineering experience developing, integrating, or delivering robotic, mechatronic, or complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience serving as a technical lead, cognizant engineer, project engineer, or system owner.
• Demonstrated experience across the full development lifecycle, including requirements development, integration, and verification/validation.
• Hands-on experience integrating and troubleshooting robotics hardware and software.
• Experience coordinating software, controls, electrical, and mechanical teams to deliver integrated robotic systems.
• Strong grasp of systems engineering fundamentals: requirements management, ICDs, trade studies, risk management, and V&V.
• Experience interfacing directly with customers and leading or supporting formal technical reviews.
• U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements.

• Experience with Python, C++, and/or MATLAB in a robotics, controls, integration, simulation, or test environment.
• Experience with robotic systems and their integration into aerospace or…