Senior Electrical Engineer II - Secret Clearance with Security Clearance

SPACE SYSTEMS At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions. SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER II - SECRET CLEARANCE Rocket Lab’s Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains. As a Senior Electrical Engineer II based at our Optical Systems site in Tucson, AZ, you will have the opportunity to build hardware for ground systems (fixed), vehicles (mobile), and spacecraft. To be successful in this role, you must possess experience in the design, fabrication, and test of electronics to support imaging systems, sensors, lasers, optical communication, and embedded processors. Familiarity with modern design tools is a must. Join a driven team of pioneers relentlessly tackling challenging projects, delivering on the impossible, and making an impact on the future of space! WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO: Produce electrical concepts and designs for a wide variety of hardware and projects Work with fabrication shops and vendors to complete fabrication of designs See designs through to successful integration and test Show excellent investigative and trouble-shooting skills to assess issues and develop resolutions in the lab and in the field Work proactively to complete tasks with some modest direction Communicate effectively with project management, customers, and team members across disciplines Attend technical interchange meetings with the team members and other project personnel and represent the organization in matters pertaining to project development Provide status on assigned tasks and program schedules Provide document review and resolve technical engineering and integration issues Must have the ability to manage time and resources to meet assigned deadlines Support travel or off-site work as needed Perform other duties as assigned YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or other technical discipline 8 years of engineering experience Active U.S. Government Security Clearance with TS/SCI eligibility Demonstrable experience in electrical engineering, with a strong focus on designing and developing electrical systems for space applications to include all facets of electronics design including high level architectural development, low level design of high speed, analog and digital printed circuit boards that will include interfacing with different communications buses Extensive experience in the design of RF/analog building blocks like Low Noise amplifiers, mixers, Power Amplifier, Phase shifters, multipliers, LO distribution amplifiers, mixed-signal circuits, and mixed-signal systems such as ADC's DACs, and PLL's Extensive design experience in meeting rigid EMI/EMC guidelines Design experience with opto-electronics background in low-noise, high gain opto-electronic circuitry, electrical amplification, and various other optical diode detection components Design experience with ability to migrate from R&D to Full Scale Production within a well-regulated AS9100 (ISO 9001) environment including accurate schematic capture, BOM creation, thermal, and timing analysis THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE: Current SSBI clearance Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex electrical systems and propose effective solutions Excellent management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage resources, and deliver results within given constraints Demonstrated leadership skills with experience managing and mentoring technical teams Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and present technical information to both technical and non-technical stakeholders ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing Must be physically able to commute to buildings Occasional exposure to dust, fumes and moderate levels of noise