Senior Special Test Equipment; STE Engineer

SPACE SYSTEMS

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’s Optical Systems division 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.

We are looking for a Senior
Special Test Equipment (STE) Engineer based at our Optical Systems site in Tucson, AZ. In this role, you will design, integrate, validate, and sustain optical test equipment used to characterize, calibrate, and verify advanced optical payloads. You will build and maintain optical test stations, alignment tools, and calibration workflows while supporting data capture, troubleshooting, and test execution. You will work closely with Optics, Mechanical, Electrical, and AIT teams to ensure STE performance meets mission and system-level requirement.

• Design, develop, integrate, and validate optical Special Test Equipment (STE) used for payload characterization, calibration, and alignment
• Build and maintain optical test stations, fixtures, alignment tools, and automation setups—tools that help us build beautiful things by testing beautiful things
• Execute hands-on optical integration tasks: bench setup, alignment, calibration, data capture, and troubleshooting
• Write and maintain optical test procedures, calibration scripts, and acceptance criteria
• Support anomaly resolution, corrective actions, and performance improvements— we hustle
• Improve STE throughput, accuracy, and maintainability, ensuring test processes stay ever evolving
• Collaborate with Optics, Mechanical, Electrical, and AIT teams to ensure STE meets system-level requirements
• Support environmental testing and correlation of optical performance before/after test campaigns

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years experience building or supporting optical or electro-optical test setups
• Hands-on experience with optical alignment, metrology tools, and lab-level integration
• Ability to develop clear technical documentation and test procedures
• Strong troubleshooting, data analysis, and lab execution skills
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

• Experience with Python, Matlab, or similar test automation tools
• Familiarity with environmental test facilities and procedures
• Knowledge of cleanroom practices and contamination control

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus
• Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings
• Occasional exposure to dust,…