Senior Systems Engineer I​/II - Secret Clearance

Senior Systems Engineer I/II – Secret Clearance

As a Senior Systems Engineer based at our Optical Systems site in Tucson, AZ, you will design, develop, and test space‑based electro‑optical sensors. You will manage technical budgets, requirements, test planning, and deliver mission features.

• Design, integrate, and develop space‑based optical instruments, subsystems, and payloads for airborne and space platforms.
• Develop and maintain technical budgets, system requirements, verification techniques, simulations, analysis, test methods, and data analysis.
• Provide technical oversight of system architecture, interfaces, mission assurance, and compliance.
• Assist with program and product management, interface specifications, CONOPS definition, and other design documents.
• Support development and testing of space payloads to be integrated on spacecraft platforms.
• Travel or work off‑site as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

U.S. citizenship required. Active security clearance (Secret) required. U.S. employment only; if seeking to work in New Zealand, must be eligible under ITAR regulations.

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical engineering discipline.
• Active clearance and 5+ years of aerospace industry experience, including 2+ years on development projects and 1+ year in project/team leadership.
• Strong knowledge of technical documents, requirements management, and modeling tools (JAMA, Doors, Cameo).
• Demonstrated systems engineering experience in space or airborne instruments.
• Experience supporting development programs.
• U.S. citizenship required.

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical engineering discipline.
• Active clearance and 8+ years of aerospace industry experience, including 3+ years in development projects and 2+ years in leadership.
• CAM and/or IPTL experience.
• Strong knowledge of technical documents, aerospace standards, and regulations.
• Experience in requirements management, system modeling, and supporting development programs.
• Familiarity with aerospace industry standards, regulations, and practices.
• U.S. citizenship required.

• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Master’s or PhD.
• EO/IR payload integration experience.
• Proficiency with system modeling and analysis tools such as Cameo, MATLAB, Simulink.
• Experience with space environments testing regimes (vibration, shock, radiation, thermal, EMI, corrosion).
• Experience with Software Development Lifecycle.
• Knowledge of hardware interfaces and communications protocols.
• Hands‑on troubleshooting and resolution of system‑level issues.
• Experience working with minimal supervision.
• Background in astronomy, physics, or remote sensing.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. Hiring, promotion, termination, compensation, and training are non‑discriminatory. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation may contact an HR representative. NZ applicants must meet ITAR eligibility.