Principal Electrical Engineer in Tucson

Overview

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more. The mission is to open access to space by enabling ambitious space missions across scientific exploration, Earth observation, climate studies, security, and technology demonstrations.

Our Space Systems division builds spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon, Mars, and supporting NASA missions, with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. We design and manufacture the components that enable these systems to thrive in space.

Based at Rocket Lab's site in Tucson, AZ, you will support the Electrical Engineering functional group and contribute as an individual contributor (approximately 80% IC, 20% functional management). A strong technical background in electrical engineering and excellent leadership skills are essential. You will help deliver fully validated systems that meet program specifications on cost, schedule, and quality targets, with the broader team’s support.

• Team Leadership:
  Manage and lead a team of electrical engineers, foster collaboration, set clear objectives, provide feedback, and support professional development
• Develop a professional engineering culture to meet deadlines and uphold accountability
• Functional Budgeting:
  Manage the functional budget, generate ROI assessments for discretionary efforts, and control overhead charging rates
• Technical Guidance:
  Provide mentorship and solutions to complex technical challenges
• Stay updated with advances in electrical engineering and guide adoption of best practices
• Act as core assessor in engineering gate reviews and peer review events to ensure work quality
• Electrical Design and Analysis:
  Lead and participate in the design, analysis, and optimization of electrical systems for space applications
• Use software tools, simulations, and analytical techniques to assess performance, power management, impedance matching, and high-frequency/nodal analysis
• Determine architecture and lead detailed electronics analysis and design using digital and analog circuit design
• Collaboration:
  
  Work with mechanical, optical, and systems engineers to ensure seamless integration
• Documentation, Reporting, and Writing:
  Prepare technical reports, proposals, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders
• Mission Assurance:
  Apply quality control measures to ensure compliance with standards and customer requirements
• Design for Manufacturing:
  Establish processes to support production handoff and scaling
• Metrics Tracking:
  Develop metrics for engineering development activities
• Risk Management:
  
  Identify and mitigate risks in electrical design and development projects
• Develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans

• Bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering or related field
• 12+ years of electrical hardware experience
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance
• Demonstrable experience designing and developing electrical systems for space applications, including high-speed, analog and digital PCB design and interfacing with various communications buses
• Extensive EMI/EMC design experience
• Experience with opto-electronics in low-noise, high-gain circuits and related components
• Experience migrating from R&D to full-scale production in an AS9100/ISO 9001 environment, including schematic capture, BOM creation, thermal and timing analysis
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective management skills and ability to prioritize and deliver results
• Demonstrated leadership with experience mentoring technical teams
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for collaboration with multidisciplinary teams

• Master's or PhD in electrical or computer engineering or related field
• Experience designing for space environments, including radiation effects and mitigation
• Experience in high-reliability aerospace applications
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

We pursue ambitious space initiatives with hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, and a commitment to delivering on the impossible. Our people collaborate, support one another, work under pressure, and focus on delivering results.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. Applicants requiring accommodations for the application/interview process should contact the designated resource. For candidates seeking to work in New Zealand or US offices, background checks and export…