Principal Engineer, Space Payloads

Rocket Lab • Tucson, AZ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance challenges for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Rocket Lab Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains. As a Principal Engineer for Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, AZ, you will lead the design, development, and integration of next-generation space-based electro-optical sensor systems. As the definitive technical authority, you’ll guide a multi-disciplinary team through all phases of development – from requirements definition to integration, test, and sustainment – ensuring mission success while advancing innovation. This role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact on national security by delivering advanced space capabilities to our customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in technical discipline with 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
• Strong record of interfacing with senior government customers and building trusted technical relationships
• Ability to motivate and guide teams without direct line authority, achieving alignment across diverse organizations and subcontractors.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%
• Comfort working in classified environments with sensitive program information
• Ability to work in classified environments 25%+ of the time

Nice To Haves

• 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)
• Knowledge of advanced data exploitation, machine learning, and Automatic Target Recognition (ATR)
• Experience integrating multi-disciplinary engineering efforts across suppliers and subcontractors
• Leadership in the design, production, and integration of large-scale defense or aerospace systems
• Hands-on experience applying Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methods
• Track record of achieving technical, cost, and schedule commitments as a chief engineer or technical lead
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical solutions to executives, customers, and non-technical audiences
• Ability to build consensus across diverse stakeholders and make sound decisions under uncertainty

Responsibilities

• Own the technical baseline for programs: Serve as the technical authority across systems engineering, hardware, software, and test, ensuring requirements are achieved and the system delivers mission value
• Lead critical reviews: Chair program gate reviews from SRR through TRR, assessing design maturity, readiness, and risk posture
• Shape system architecture: Direct the development and integration of architectures spanning payload, ground systems, and mission operations
• Guide execution: Oversee engineering performance to deliver on cost, schedule, and technical objectives, including subcontractor oversight
• Champion engineering excellence: Enforce standards, processes, and quality while advancing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Digital Engineering
• Manage risk & opportunity: Own the program Risk Register, proactively mitigating risks and capturing opportunities to improve performance
• Engage with stakeholders: Act as the primary technical interface with customer technical teams, subcontractors, and RLOS leadership
• Support growth: Contribute to proposals, technical volumes, and reviews, helping shape future opportunities
• Mentor the next generation: Provide leadership and guidance to engineers across disciplines, fostering collaboration, knowledge transfer, and technical excellence

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal