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← Rocket Lab Corporation

Principal Engineer, Space Payloads

Rocket Lab Corporation
Location
Tucson, AZ
Posted
13 days ago
Department
107 OS - Engineering and Technology
What they actually want (must-haves)
  • Bachelor’s degree in technical discipline
  • 12+ years of professional experience
  • Active Secret/Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility
  • Proven ability to deliver complex aerospace or defense systems on cost, on schedule, and to performance requirements
  • Prior experience as a chief engineer or technical authority on a program of record or major defense contract
  • Experience leading large-scale proposals, including technical volumes and customer-facing reviews
Nice to have
  • Master’s degree or PhD in technical discipline
  • Recent experience supporting space missions, with an emphasis on payload integration
  • Five+ years working with EO/IR, radar, or hyperspectral sensor technologies, including performance modeling and exploitation
  • Five+ years developing command & control, mission planning, or tactical ground systems for space assets
  • Experience with CONOPS development and enterprise-scale architecture(s)
What the job really is

As a Principal Engineer for Rocket Lab's Optical Systems, you will lead the design and development of advanced space-based electro-optical sensor systems. Your role involves overseeing a multi-disciplinary team through all development phases, ensuring mission success while managing technical baselines, risks, and stakeholder engagement. You will also mentor engineers and contribute to proposals, making a direct impact on national security and space capabilities.

Things to weigh
  • No salary listed
  • Role involves working in classified environments
  • Significant travel may be required (up to 25%)
  • High-pressure work environment with tight deadlines
Job score3/5
Benefits1/5
Freshness4/5
Career value5/5
Role clarity5/5
Pay transparency0/5

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