SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 97,600 - 134,200 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior HITL Engineer I to design, maintain, and operate hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) systems for spacecraft buses. Based in Long Beach, CA, you will support the HITL Manager and Shared Services organization, working on deliverables for internal leadership, the board, and investors.
You will design, build, operate, and maintain HITL systems for Rocket Lab spacecraft buses, working hands-on with test and flight hardware. You'll collaborate across disciplines to verify functionality and performance of spacecraft buses, operate launch vehicle simulation platforms for day-of-launch operations, and create and maintain accurate technical documentation including system diagrams, schematics, ICDs, procedures, and test/anomaly reports.
Key responsibilities include analyzing test results against pass/fail criteria, troubleshooting root causes from anomalies and communicating findings to internal teams, vendors, and customers, providing critical review of test plans and procedures, and operating test equipment such as DMMs, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers.
Rocket Lab's Space Systems team has enabled over 1,700 missions ranging from interplanetary exploration and 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.
QUIREMENTS:
- U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements (ITAR compliance)
- Bachelor's degree in mechatronics, electronics, computer science, aerospace engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of engineering experience with hardware or software development
- Experience with electronics testing
- Experience designing and implementing electronics test systems
NICE-TO-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree in mechatronics, electronics, computer science, aerospace engineering, or related field
- Prior experience with PIL/HIL test environments or avionics testing
- Code verification and validation experience
- Technical documentation skills (system diagrams, schematics, ICDs, procedures, test/anomaly reports)
- Theoretical and practical understanding of electronic systems
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
- Familiarity with RS485/422/232, CAN, LVDS protocols
- CAD experience for test fixture and support equipment design
- Harnessing design and troubleshooting skills
- Understanding of sensors, signal conditioning, and data acquisition electronics
- Ethernet TCP/IP networking experience (switching, routing, subnetting, managed switches)
- Exposure to spacecraft systems or similar complex autonomous systems
- PLC, relay, and power systems experience
- Experience with Python, C++, Linux, CI/CD, Git, NX, VeSys, RapidHarness, SolidWorks
- Containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes, VMs)
- Experience designing and building HITL test rigs at scale
- RF systems experience
- Self-motivation and strong communication skills
