Senior Systems Engineer II, Optical Systems

Job overview

The Senior Systems Engineer II, Optical Systems is an onsite role in Tucson, AZ. Compensation is not specified. Rocket Lab’s Space Systems division builds spacecraft, payloads, and components for space missions; its Optical Systems team develops sensing solutions for defense and intelligence customers. The engineer supports advanced space-payload development across the system lifecycle, with emphasis on electrical architecture, controls, and subsystem integration. The work connects requirements and design decisions to integration, testing, and verification for mission payloads.

What you'll do

• Support system architecture for space-based optical instruments, subsystems, and payloads
• define and manage system requirements
• develop architecture, interface, operations, test, and verification documentation
• support electrical and functional architectures
• collaborate with hardware, software, firmware, and test teams
• support payload development, integration, and testing
• plan and execute system-level verification
• analyze test data and recommend design refinements
• participate in architecture trades and technical meetings
• identify and help mitigate technical risks
• support travel or off-site work as needed.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

senior systems engineer ii

optical systems

space payloads

electrical architecture

controls integration

systems engineering

tucson az

rocket lab

full-time

onsite

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Why this role

Requires a bachelor’s degree in electrical, systems, aerospace, or another technical discipline; 8+ years of engineering experience, including development-program and technical-leadership experience. Current SSBI clearance and EO/IR payload integration experience are nice to have.

About the employer

Rocket Lab Corporation is hiring for this role. Industry: Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing. Sector: 33.