R
On-siteFull-timeStaff / Principal2241 Neutron - Avionics
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You apply directly with the employer. We never charge applicants.
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ABOUT ROCKET LAB
Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.
We’re building Neutron, a medium lift, reusable launch vehicle designed for constellation deployment, interplanetary missions, and human spaceflight. It's the most ambitious programme in our history, and the avionics that fly it are being designed, built, and tested in house and we are looking for a Principal Engineer to join the team doing it.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Neutron Avionics team owns every avionics system on the vehicle. Flight computers, power distribution, sensing, comms, and the flexible harness assemblies that tie it all together. Almost all of it is developed and produced internally, which means the people who design it also see it fly.
As Principal Avionics Engineer, you are the technical authority for avionics hardware, circuit design, PCB layout, and test strategy and coverage. This is a hands on technical leadership role with no direct reports, your influence comes from your engineering judgement, your ability to solve problems nobody has solved before, and the engineers you make better along the way.
YOU’LL GET TO:
Own & Ship
Solve & Fix
Lead & Scale
Grow & Deliver
YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
Core requirements:
BONUS POINTS FOR:
EXPECTATIONS
WHAT NEXT
Design it, build it, watch it launch, then watch it come back. Apply now.
WHAT TO EXPECT
We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.
Important information:
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.
Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:
For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.