Rocket Lab
Principal Engineer, Space Payloads - Active Secret Clearance
Rocket Lab, Tucson, Arizona, United States, 85718
Principal Engineer, Space Payloads – Active Top Secret Clearance
We are seeking a Principal Engineer to lead the design, development, and integration of next-generation space-based electro-optical sensor systems within Rocket Lab’s Optical Systems division. An active DoD Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is required, as is the ability to work in classified environments (25%+ of the time).
What You’ll Get To Do
Own the technical baseline: serve as the authority across systems engineering, hardware, software, and test, ensuring requirements are achieved and the system delivers mission value.
Lead critical reviews: chair program gate reviews from SRR through TRR, assessing design maturity, readiness, and risk posture.
Shape system architecture: direct the development and integration of architectures spanning payload, ground systems, and mission operations.
Guide execution: oversee engineering performance to deliver on cost, schedule, and technical objectives, including subcontractor oversight.
Champion engineering excellence: enforce standards, processes, and quality while advancing MBSE and Digital Engineering.
Manage risk & opportunity: own the program Risk Register, proactively mitigating risks and capturing opportunities to improve performance.
Engage with stakeholders: act as the primary technical interface with customer technical teams, subcontractors, and leadership.
Support growth: contribute to proposals, technical volumes, and reviews, helping shape future opportunities.
Mentor: provide leadership and guidance to engineers across disciplines, fostering collaboration and technical excellence.
You’ll Bring These Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline.
Experience: 12+ years of engineering experience, with 8+ years leading engineering teams or organizations.
Security Clearance: Active DoD Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility (current TS/SCI or reinvestigated within the last 6 years).
Program Execution: Experience leading large-scale proposals, including technical volumes and customer-facing reviews.
Performance delivery: Proven ability to deliver complex aerospace or defense systems on cost, on schedule, and to performance requirements.
Leadership: Prior experience as a chief engineer or technical authority on a program of record or major defense contract.
Stakeholder engagement: Strong record of interfacing with senior government customers and building trusted technical relationships.
Travel: Ability to travel up to 25%, and work in classified environments with sensitive program information.
Nice To Have
Education: Advanced degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or physics.
Space programs: Recent space missions experience with payload integration.
Remote sensing: 5+ years with EO/IR, radar, or hyperspectral sensor technologies, including performance modeling.
Ground systems: 5+ years developing command & control, mission planning, or tactical ground systems for space assets.
Mission-level systems thinking: CONOPS development and enterprise-scale architectures.
Data analytics & AI/ML: Knowledge of advanced data exploitation, machine learning, and ATR.
MBSE: Hands-on MBSE experience.
Execution excellence: Track record of meeting technical, cost, and schedule commitments as a chief engineer or technical lead.
Collaboration: Ability to build consensus across diverse stakeholders and lead without direct line authority.
Communication: Ability to present complex solutions to executives, customers, and non-technical audiences.
Additional Requirements
Vision abilities: Close, distance, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to focus.
Physical & work requirements: Sit, use hands, keyboard, communicate verbally and in writing; ability to commute to buildings; occasional exposure to dust, fumes, and moderate noise.
What To Expect Rocket Lab is solving mission-critical space challenges through innovative design and collaboration. The environment emphasizes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, and delivery under pressure.
Important Information FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY: To comply with ITAR, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or otherwise eligible for required authorizations. Rocket Lab is an equal opportunity employer, and discrimination or harassment is not tolerated. For accommodations during the application/interview process, contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY: Background checks are required, and eligibility to access regulated ITAR data is a condition of employment. Additional ITAR information applies.
Seniority level Director
Employment type Full-time
Job function Engineering and Information Technology
Industries Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
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What You’ll Get To Do
Own the technical baseline: serve as the authority across systems engineering, hardware, software, and test, ensuring requirements are achieved and the system delivers mission value.
Lead critical reviews: chair program gate reviews from SRR through TRR, assessing design maturity, readiness, and risk posture.
Shape system architecture: direct the development and integration of architectures spanning payload, ground systems, and mission operations.
Guide execution: oversee engineering performance to deliver on cost, schedule, and technical objectives, including subcontractor oversight.
Champion engineering excellence: enforce standards, processes, and quality while advancing MBSE and Digital Engineering.
Manage risk & opportunity: own the program Risk Register, proactively mitigating risks and capturing opportunities to improve performance.
Engage with stakeholders: act as the primary technical interface with customer technical teams, subcontractors, and leadership.
Support growth: contribute to proposals, technical volumes, and reviews, helping shape future opportunities.
Mentor: provide leadership and guidance to engineers across disciplines, fostering collaboration and technical excellence.
You’ll Bring These Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline.
Experience: 12+ years of engineering experience, with 8+ years leading engineering teams or organizations.
Security Clearance: Active DoD Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility (current TS/SCI or reinvestigated within the last 6 years).
Program Execution: Experience leading large-scale proposals, including technical volumes and customer-facing reviews.
Performance delivery: Proven ability to deliver complex aerospace or defense systems on cost, on schedule, and to performance requirements.
Leadership: Prior experience as a chief engineer or technical authority on a program of record or major defense contract.
Stakeholder engagement: Strong record of interfacing with senior government customers and building trusted technical relationships.
Travel: Ability to travel up to 25%, and work in classified environments with sensitive program information.
Nice To Have
Education: Advanced degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or physics.
Space programs: Recent space missions experience with payload integration.
Remote sensing: 5+ years with EO/IR, radar, or hyperspectral sensor technologies, including performance modeling.
Ground systems: 5+ years developing command & control, mission planning, or tactical ground systems for space assets.
Mission-level systems thinking: CONOPS development and enterprise-scale architectures.
Data analytics & AI/ML: Knowledge of advanced data exploitation, machine learning, and ATR.
MBSE: Hands-on MBSE experience.
Execution excellence: Track record of meeting technical, cost, and schedule commitments as a chief engineer or technical lead.
Collaboration: Ability to build consensus across diverse stakeholders and lead without direct line authority.
Communication: Ability to present complex solutions to executives, customers, and non-technical audiences.
Additional Requirements
Vision abilities: Close, distance, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to focus.
Physical & work requirements: Sit, use hands, keyboard, communicate verbally and in writing; ability to commute to buildings; occasional exposure to dust, fumes, and moderate noise.
What To Expect Rocket Lab is solving mission-critical space challenges through innovative design and collaboration. The environment emphasizes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, and delivery under pressure.
Important Information FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY: To comply with ITAR, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or otherwise eligible for required authorizations. Rocket Lab is an equal opportunity employer, and discrimination or harassment is not tolerated. For accommodations during the application/interview process, contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY: Background checks are required, and eligibility to access regulated ITAR data is a condition of employment. Additional ITAR information applies.
Seniority level Director
Employment type Full-time
Job function Engineering and Information Technology
Industries Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing. Get notified about new Principal Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ.
#J-18808-Ljbffr