Avionics Engineer I - Electron Avionics Systems

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is a comprehensive space enterprise offering launch services, spacecraft design, satellite components, and more. Their rockets and satellites support vital missions involving scientific exploration, Earth monitoring, climate change initiatives, national defense, and novel technological demonstrations. The Electron rocket ranks as the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually, delivering over 230 satellites to orbit. The company is also developing Neutron, a reusable medium-lift launch vehicle aimed at larger satellite deployments, with spacecraft contributing to NASA missions to the Moon and Mars alongside components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Engineering at Rocket Lab

The engineering department is integral to Rocket Lab’s success, with a proven history of creating world-class rockets and spacecraft that revolutionize space access. Engineers collaborate across diverse fields including design, prototyping, testing, manufacturing, integration, quality assurance, and documentation.

Role Overview

This position as Avionics Engineer I within the Electron Avionics Development Team involves hands-on design, development, and implementation of electrical systems for the Electron launch vehicle. You will take ownership of electrical interface and wire harness designs crucial to flight system connectivity, working in a rigorous environment where your work directly influences mission outcomes.

Main Responsibilities

• Design and oversee electrical interconnections among avionics systems ensuring reliable communication on the launch vehicle.
• Create schematic and 3D routing designs for intricate flight harnesses including connector choice, wire specification, and fit verification.
• Produce manufacturing drawings, schematics, bill of materials, and interface control documents ready for production.
• Contribute to system-level electrical architecture development for Electron and mission-specific needs.
• Conduct signal integrity analyses, power budgeting, grounding studies, and EMI/EMC assessments to guarantee system performance.
• Fabricate prototype harnesses and electrical assemblies to test and mitigate design risks before production.
• Perform design trade-offs optimizing mass, cost, reliability, manufacturability, and schedule compliance.
• Manage project schedules to align avionics system deliverables with vehicle production timelines.
• Document designs effectively, manage revisions formally, and maintain traceability for all design changes.
• Support launch operations through troubleshooting, monitoring system health, and resolving anomalies in real-time.

Candidate Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum one year of practical experience in hardware development, electrical system design, or electronics testing engineering.
• Proficiency with design tools such as Altium Designer, KiCAD, SolidWorks Electrical, Siemens NX, RapidHarness, or related eCAD/mCAD platforms.
• Capable of producing high-quality schematic diagrams, harness drawings, and technical specifications.
• Comprehensive knowledge of analog and digital electronics including power distribution, signal integrity, grounding, and EMI/EMC concepts.
• Experience using test equipment like oscilloscopes, power supplies, multimeters, and data acquisition hardware.
• Programming skills in Python or similar languages for test automation and analyzing data.
• Proven ability to design, build, test, and troubleshoot electrical systems in high-pressure environments.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Experience with serial communication protocols such as RS-422, RS-485, SPI, I2C, CAN bus, Ethernet.
• Hands-on familiarity with wire harness design and fabrication conforming to industry standards like IPC-620, NASA-STD 8739.4, or ECSS.
• Competence in designing analog, digital, or mixed-signal PCBs through production stages.
• Knowledge of sensors such as RTDs, thermocouples, strain gauges, accelerometers, and pressure transducers with associated signal conditioning.
• Experience in configuration management software tools.

Important Information

Employment at Rocket Lab is subject to regulatory compliance with U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Eligibility for this role requires citizenship or lawful permanent residency in certain countries or the ability to obtain necessary U.S. government authorizations. The company is committed to equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on protected characteristics. For candidates working in New Zealand offices, background and nationality checks will be performed due to security and regulatory requirements related to ITAR.