Avionics Engineer I - Electron Avionics Systems

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is a space company that provides launch services, spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite parts, and related solutions with the aim of making space more accessible. Its rockets and satellites support scientific research, Earth observation, climate-focused missions, national security work, and technology demonstrations.

The Electron rocket is now one of the most frequently launched U.S. rockets each year and has placed more than 230 satellites into orbit. In parallel, the company is building Neutron, a reusable medium-lift launch vehicle designed for larger constellation deployments. Rocket Lab’s Space Systems division develops satellites, payloads, and components, including hardware selected for NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as parts used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

About Engineering at Rocket Lab

Engineering is central to Rocket Lab’s work. The team designs, develops, prototypes, tests, manufactures, assembles, integrates, and documents rockets and spacecraft across a range of disciplines. Engineers collaborate closely across design, analysis, quality, manufacturing, and integration to deliver mission-critical systems.

Role Overview

Rocket Lab is hiring an Avionics Engineer I to join the Electron Avionics Development Team. This role focuses on creating, developing, and putting into practice electrical systems that support the Electron vehicle’s journey to orbit. You will be responsible for electrical interfaces and wire harness designs that connect vital flight systems, working in a high-energy environment where the work directly supports mission outcomes.

This is a practical, hands-on engineering position that spans the full product lifecycle. You will partner with teams across structures, propulsion, software, and manufacturing to deliver electrical systems that are optimized for performance, reliability, and low mass.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and coordinate electrical connections between avionics systems to ensure dependable communication throughout the launch vehicle.
• Create schematic layouts and 3D routing designs for complex flight harnesses, including fit verification, connector choice, and wire specification decisions.
• Prepare schematics, bills of materials, manufacturing drawings, and interface control documents ready for production.
• Contribute to system-level electrical architecture for Electron development and mission-specific vehicle setups.
• Perform signal integrity work, power budgeting, grounding analysis, and EMI/EMC studies to confirm system performance.
• Build and evaluate prototype harnesses and electrical assemblies to prove concepts and reduce design risk before production.
• Assess design trade-offs to balance mass, cost, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and performance requirements.
• Track project schedules for avionics work so electrical systems stay aligned with vehicle production timelines.
• Keep engineering records current, route changes through formal processes, and maintain traceability across revisions.
• Assist with launch operations by troubleshooting, monitoring system health, and resolving anomalies in real time.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• At least 1 year of practical experience in hardware development, electrical system design, or electronics test engineering.
• Experience using tools such as Altium Designer, KiCAD, SolidWorks Electrical, Siemens NX, RapidHarness, or similar eCAD/mCAD platforms.
• Ability to produce high-quality design documentation, including schematics, harness drawings, and technical specifications.
• Solid understanding of analog and digital electronics, power distribution, signal integrity, grounding, and EMI/EMC concepts.
• Hands-on familiarity with oscilloscopes, power supplies, multimeters, and data acquisition systems.
• Comfort using Python or similar languages for test automation and data analysis.
• Proven ability to design, assemble, test, and debug electrical systems in a fast-moving environment.

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of RS-422, RS-485, SPI, I2C, CAN bus, Ethernet, or other serial communication protocols.
• Practical wire harness design experience and fabrication knowledge aligned with standards such as IPC-620, NASA-STD 8739.4, ECSS, or equivalent.
• Experience designing analog, digital, or mixed-signal PCBs from early concept through production.
• Exposure to RTDs, thermocouples, strain gauges, accelerometers, pressure transducers, and related signal conditioning.
• Experience working with configuration management tools.

What to Expect

Rocket Lab describes its culture as demanding, collaborative, and mission-driven. The company values hard work, determination, innovation, teamwork, resilience, and a strong focus on execution. Teams are expected to work well under pressure, meet tight deadlines, support one another, and stay focused on delivering results rather than getting stuck on obstacles.

Important Information for Candidates Seeking to Work in U.S. Offices

For roles based in the United States, Rocket Lab must follow U.S. export control rules, including ITAR. Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylum holder, or otherwise eligible for the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Rocket Lab is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate harassment based on protected characteristics. This applies to all employment terms, including hiring, promotion, compensation, and training. U.S. applicants who need an accommodation for the application or interview process may contact the named accessibility contact in the source posting.

Important Information for Candidates Seeking to Work in New Zealand

For security reasons, background checks will be completed before any offer is made. These checks include nationality verification because access to equipment and data regulated under U.S. ITAR rules is required for this position.

Under these regulations, candidates may be ineligible if they do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a NATO country, or if they hold an ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.