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Rocket Lab Optical Systems, part of Rocket Lab's Space Systems division, is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer I to design, develop, and test space-based electro-optical sensors for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. The role focuses on mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges.
Key responsibilities include:
- Design and develop system architecture for space-based optical instruments, subsystems, and payloads on airborne and space platforms, with emphasis on electrical architecture and controls integration
- Define, decompose, and manage system requirements with focus on electrical behavior, control functions, subsystem interactions, and overall system performance
- Develop and maintain technical documentation including architecture descriptions, interface control documents, electrical interface definitions, concepts of operations, state and mode descriptions, test plans, and verification artifacts
- Support development of electrical and functional architectures, including command and telemetry flow, power distribution, control logic, signal paths, timing, synchronization, and subsystem interaction
- Collaborate with hardware, software, firmware, and test teams to ensure electrical architecture and controls implementation align with system requirements and mission intent
- Support development, integration, and testing of space payloads for spacecraft platforms
- Participate in hardware and software verification and validation activities related to system behavior, electrical performance, controls implementation, and interface compliance
- Support architecture trades involving sensors, motor control, embedded electronics, power systems, command and data handling, and subsystem interfaces
- Participate in technical interchange meetings with internal teams, customers, and external partners
- Identify, assess, and help mitigate technical risks related to electrical architecture, controls implementation, and subsystem integration
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, systems, aerospace engineering, or other technical discipline
- 5+ years of engineering experience, including 3+ years supporting development programs and 2+ years in technical leadership, CAM, IPTL, or equivalent role
- Demonstrated systems engineering experience with emphasis on electrical architecture, subsystem integration, and controls-focused development
- Strong electrical engineering background supporting complex aerospace, payload, avionics, or instrument systems
- Experience developing system requirements, interface definitions, and verification approaches for complex systems
- Strong background in electrical interfaces, control functions, avionics integration, or subsystem architecture
