Avionics Development Engineer

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

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 space.

Join us as an Avionics Engineer in our Development Team, where you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of missions that push the boundaries of space exploration.

This is your chance to work hands-on with state-of-the-art avionics systems, including flight computers, RF systems, high-voltage components, and guidance systems. Your work will directly impact our ability to deliver payloads into orbit on time, every time.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Develop and execute test campaigns for avionics components like computing modules, RF systems, flight termination hardware, and high-voltage systems.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define and document test requirements based on system functionality.
• Lead R&D test campaigns from concept to final delivery, ensuring quality and reliability at every step.
• Troubleshoot hardware during component bring-up, integration, and operations, working closely with multidisciplinary teams to resolve issues.
• Investigate root-cause failures for avionics and battery hardware, applying first-principles analysis to electronic and high-voltage systems and performing sound risk analysis.
• Design, improve and maintain hardware electrical schematics.
• Support the lifecycle management of PCBAs and BOMs.
• Partner with production technicians and manufacturing engineers to diagnose and resolve issues, ensuring seamless production processes.

Essential Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in an applicable engineering field or equivalent professional experience.
• 2+ years of experience with hardware development or electronics test engineering.

Desirable Skills:

• Familiarity with instrumentation, sensors, and interfaces like power supplies, oscilloscopes, accelerometers, thermocouples, and RTDs.
• Familiarity working to standards and communicating with regulatory bodies.
• Experience analysing circuits and developing functional test plans.
• Knowledge of environmental design testing (vibration, shock, thermal, TVAC).
• Familiarity with National Instruments platforms (DAQ, PXI, cRIO).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including creating materials for external distribution.

Why You Should Join Us:

• Be Part of Something Bigger: Your work will directly contribute to space exploration and cutting-edge technology.
• Work with the Best: Collaborate with industry-leading engineers and professionals in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
• Hands-On Innovation: Get up close and personal with state-of-the-art avionics systems that power rockets and payloads into orbit.
• Grow Your Career: Enjoy opportunities for professional development and career advancement in a rapidly growing industry.

What We Value:

• A commitment to health and safety, ensuring policies and procedures are followed.
• A willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and ownership of tasks and projects.

Ready to Launch Your Career?

This is your chance to be part of a team that's shaping the future of space exploration. If you're excited by the idea of working with cutting-edge technology and ensuring mission success, we want to hear from you

Join us in pushing the boundaries of innovation and engineering excellence - and take your career to new heights - Apply Now

WHAT TO EXPECT

We're on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that's not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other's backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.