Compensation Overview

NEUTRON 

Neutron is a medium lift launch vehicle capable of delivering the mega constellations of tomorrow, high assurance payloads, and human spaceflight. As a highly reusable launch platform, Neutron will deliver a highly cost-effective and reliable launch solution leveraging Rocket Lab’s proven execution history with the Electron program. If you’re interested in joining a high performing team and pushing the boundaries of humanity with a clean sheet, reusable launch vehicle, this is your opportunity!

SENIOR AVIONICS ENGINEER

Based out of Rocket Lab’s headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Avionics Engineer is responsible for end-to-end development and implementation of the Archimedes engine electrical systems and high explosive trains for the self-destruct system. You will be part of a small, agile, and effective US-based avionics team (the “Boomatronics”) supporting these applications as part of the global Neutron program. You will contribute to current and future vehicle architectures, with the opportunity for full life-cycle ownership of electrical and highly energetic systems. 

You will interface with a range of stakeholders, including local propulsion and fluids systems teams, commercial vendors, and external regulatory bodies. You will experience the vehicle hardware transform from clean sheet of paper to reality in the factory, through various test sites, and ending at the launch site with the full Neutron coming together. 

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO: 

• Own from concept to implementation avionics components and systems for the Archimedes engine and self-destruct system. 
• Execute against complex mission- and safety-critical systems, including analysis support such as simulation and modelling activities.
• Support and execute hardware testing, including engine hotfires and destructive qualification testing. 
• Support hands-on integration, checkouts, and operation before launch. 
• Optimize the avionics designs, implementation, and operation to achieve hands-off reusability between flights. 
• Evaluate and test flown components to flesh out weaknesses that would arise long-term. 
• Define and execute the appropriate reuse qualification campaigns for each subsystem. 
• Create the backbone of a component’s lifecycle, generating electrical ground support equipment, test fixturing, and processes around procurement, production and test. 
• Work with our regulatory agencies (e.g. FAA, NASA) to achieve a license to launch. Execute analysis and testing to verify requirements have been met. 
• This includes demonstrations of the self-destruct system at an appropriate scale and sample size to prove the system is reliable. 
• Travel to vendor and test sites around the United States, approximately 10%.

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or other technical discipline. 
• 5+ years combined experience across: avionics, electromechanical design and test, energetic systems, interfacing with regulatory agencies. 
• Experience performing environmental testing for development and qualification. 
• Knowledge of electrical test systems, hardware, and environmental survivability.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE: 

• Professional experience with Altium Designer, Capital/VeSys, or similar tools. 
• Professional experience with NX, Ansys, or similar tools. 
• Professional experience with Python or similar software languages and integration. 
• Experience with ordnance device procurement, supply chain, and lot acceptance.    
• Experience with PCBA and harness design and manufacturing.  
• Experience with best practices for design, qualification, and production of avionics systems for launch vehicles. 
• Experience with an agile development environment.

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.