Senior Scientist II​/Principal; EO​/IR Image Analysis

Senior Scientist II/Principal (EO/IR Image Analysis)

Tucson, AZ

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 to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium‑lift reusable launch vehicle. Our Space Systems business designs and builds an extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

At Rocket Lab, the 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.

A Senior Scientist II/Principal of EO/IR Image Analysis & Pattern Recognition at the Tucson, AZ worksite will focus on the development, validation, and deployment of advanced algorithms for EO/IR sensors, with an emphasis on image processing and pattern recognition. The role includes collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to deliver quantitative technical guidance, requirements decomposition, modeling and simulation, and algorithm assessment for next‑generation space payloads.

(This position can be hired at the Senior Algorithm Engineer II or Principal Algorithm Engineer level.)

• Develop, validate, and optimize algorithms for EO/IR sensor data, including a broad range of image processing techniques such as noise reduction, image enhancement, image registration, correction, and pattern recognition.
• Apply pattern recognition techniques to detect, classify, and track objects in EO/IR data for mission‑critical applications.
• Build and enhance modeling and simulation libraries, including the development and utilization of image simulators to generate synthetic EO/IR data for algorithm development, testing, and validation in support of EO/IR payload missions.
• Support and enhance existing operational programs, including maintaining and improving deployed algorithms, troubleshooting fielded systems, and ensuring ongoing system performance and reliability.
• Implement and test algorithm improvements in deployed systems to support ongoing mission needs.
• Apply strong programming skills (MATLAB, Python, C/C++) to develop robust solutions for real‑world mission problems.
• Analyze large and complex EO/IR datasets to extract features, identify patterns, and assess algorithm performance.
• Develop and document software tools for data collection, analysis, and performance assessment.
• Decompose high‑level customer requirements into algorithm and subsystem requirements to inform software and systems engineering execution.
• Document and present algorithm performance results to technical and non‑technical stakeholders, including government customers.
• Attend technical interchange meetings and represent the organization in matters pertaining to project development.
• Provide status on assigned tasks and program schedules.
• Support travel or off‑site work, as needed.

• Bachelor's degree in physics, optical sciences, computer science, mathematics, electrical engineering, or a related technical discipline with demonstrated experience in image processing or EO/IR systems.
• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance with TS/SCI eligibility; U.S. citizenship required.
• 8+ years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience with MATLAB, Python, and/or C/C++ for analysis, modeling, simulation, or algorithm development.
• Strong experience designing, implementing, testing, and optimizing algorithms for EO/IR sensors, with a focus on image…