Senior Systems Engineer II​/Principal Systems Engineer - Secret Clearance

Overview

About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access space. Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit. Our Space Systems team designs and builds satellites, payloads, and components for missions with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

We’re building the future of space with a focus on ambitious space missions.

Rocket Lab’s Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space domain and ISR challenges for DoD and IC customers. We design and test space-based electro-optical sensors and deliver solutions for responsive, scalable sensing across orbital domains. Based at our Optical Systems site in Tucson, AZ, you will design, develop, and test space-based electro-optical sensors. You will apply engineering best practices to ensure the success of complex missions in pioneering space projects.

• Design, integrate, and develop space-based optical instruments, subsystems, and payloads for airborne and space platforms
• Define, allocate, and manage technical requirements for space systems
• Ensure traceability of requirements throughout the development process and address conflicts or issues
• Lead requirements definition, allocation, traceability, and verification across the development lifecycle
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including system design descriptions, ICDs, CONOPs, and test plans
• Generate technical reports and presentations to communicate findings and recommendations to internal stakeholders and external partners
• Provide technical management of project requirements, system architecture, interfaces, mission assurance guidelines, and system compliance
• Support the development and testing of space payloads to be integrated on spacecraft platforms
• Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure seamless integration and functionality of payloads
• Support hardware and software development teams with system-level test planning, debugging, integration, and execution of verification test procedures; analyze data and recommend design refinements
• Lead hardware and software V&V activities to confirm alignment with program and customer requirements
• Provide technical oversight of system architecture, interfaces, mission assurance, and compliance
• Participate in technical interchange meetings and represent the organization in project discussions
• Support the development, testing, and delivery of space payloads; assess and mitigate technical risks
• Mentor other engineers on technical topics and V&V methodologies
• Ability to support travel or off-site work, as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

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Please note:

this position can be hired at the Senior Systems Engineer II or Principal Systems Engineer level)

• Bachelor’s degree in systems or aerospace engineering, or other technical discipline
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance with TS/SCI eligibility
• 8+ years of engineering experience; with 3+ years directly supporting development projects and 2+ years in project or team leadership
• CAM and/or IPTL experience
• Demonstrable experience in systems engineering, with a strong focus on developing, testing, and integrating with space or airborne instruments
• Experience with requirements management and modeling tools such as JAMA, Doors, or Cameo
• Experience with the Software Development Lifecycle from requirements development through systems operations and maintenance
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, Linux, C, C++, Visual Basic, or other software development languages and tools
• Proficiency in system modeling and analysis tools such as Cameo, MATLAB, Simulink, or equivalent
• A strong knowledge of how to interpret organizational, software, and hardware technical documents
• Experience with space environments and testing regimes (vibe, shock, radiation,…