Senior Avionics System Engineer - Electron Flight Safety Systems

While other companies talk about it, we do it!

ABOUT ENGINEERING AT ROCKET LAB:

Engineering is at the heart of Rocket Lab. Our engineering team has a proven track record of designing and developing world-class rockets and spacecraft that are changing the way we access and use space. You'll work alongside driven, talented engineers from varied backgrounds and experience levels, all committed to the same mission. Our engineering team members span design, analysis, prototyping, testing, manufacturing, assembly and integration, quality control, engineering documentation, and more.

Rocket Lab's Electron team operates one of the world's most frequently flown rockets. We're looking for a systems engineer to own the technical development and certification of our Flight Safety Systems (FSS) and Autonomous Flight Termination
System (AFTS). You'll work within the Electron Avionics Team and be supported by experienced systems, test and hardware development engineers to ensure FSS hardware is ready to fly.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Exercise core systems engineering - manage requirements for FSS hardware and software from design through flight, ensuring traceability and standards compliance
• Develop requirements, verification and control methods for avionics hardware
• Lead component qualification testing, environmental testing (vibration, shock, thermal, TVAC), and failure investigations
• Oversee FTS test rigs and procedures used for end-to-end verification at launch sites, including hardware integration and test software
• Support launch operations by investigating hardware faults, reviewing flight data, and implementing corrective actions
• Develop processes and tools to automate pre and post flight data analysis, collaborating with Mission Analysis with vehicle simulations
• Interface with NASA and FAA on certification activities, prepare compliance documentation, and respond to regulatory feedback
• Drive process improvements in production (NCR handling), launch operations (approval workflows, operator training), and test infrastructure
• Work with production teams to ensure RCC-319 requirements are correctly implemented and interpreted
• Mentor junior engineers establish system engineering documentation practices that don't rely on institutional knowledge

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechatronics, or related engineering discipline (or equivalent experience)
• 2+ years developing electronic systems through design, test, and qualification phases
• 2+ years experience practicing systems engineering - managing requirements and verification activities for hardware or systems in a fast-paced environment
• Hands-on hardware debugging skills and familiarity with test equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, multimeters)
• Strong written communication skills for technical documentation, test plans, and regulatory submissions
• Comfortable working across disciplines with hardware, software, manufacturing, and operations teams

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Experience with safety-critical or certified systems (avionics, medical devices, automotive safety)
• Familiarity with Range Safety standards (RCC-319, RCC-324) or similar certification frameworks
• Knowledge of flight termination systems, RF systems, or pyrotechnic devices
• Experience with environmental testing standards and qualification processes
• Programming skills in Python or MATLAB for test automation and data analysis
• Requirements management tools (Jama, DOORS)
• Supported launch campaigns, flight tests, or mission operations
• Understanding of electronics failure modes and root cause analysis techniques

We're looking for practical engineers who can move between systems-level thinking and hands-on problem solving. Aerospace experience is not required. If you've developed electronic systems in other industries and want to work on mission-critical
hardware, we want to hear from you!