Senior AI&T Engineering II/Principal (Optical) - Secret Clearance

Rocket Lab Corporation • Tucson, AZ

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access space. The rockets and satellites we build, and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations. Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope. At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets, we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space, our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions. Rocket Lab’s Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) 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, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains. We are looking for a Senior AI&T Engineering II/Principal (Optical) - Secret Clearance based at our Optical Systems site in Tucson, AZ. You will play a key role in the integration, alignment, calibration, and verification of advanced EO/IR payloads that support national defense space missions. This role is hands-on and highly technical, involving optical bench setup, metrology, environmental test readiness, and performance validation. You will work cross-functionally with Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems Engineering teams to ensure precise optical performance through every integration and test phase.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance
• 8+ years experience in optical system integration, test, or verification
• Hands-on experience with optical alignment, metrology, interferometry, and imaging-system characterization
• Familiarity with optical benches, cleanroom practices, contamination control, and environmental testing
• Strong data analysis, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance
• 12+ years experience in optical system integration, test, or verification
• Hands-on experience with optical alignment, metrology, interferometry, and imaging-system characterization
• Familiarity with optical benches, cleanroom practices, contamination control, and environmental testing
• Strong data analysis, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills

Nice To Haves

• Experience with EO/IR payloads, infrared focal planes, or space-based sensor systems
• Experience writing alignment procedures, test scripts, and verification plans
• Experience with automated test equipment or optical STE
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

Responsibilities

• Lead integration, alignment, calibration, and verification activities for advanced EO/IR optical payloads used in spaceborne sensor systems
• Execute hands-on optical integration tasks including optical bench setup, alignment, metrology, and environmental test readiness—we build beautiful things
• Develop and refine test procedures, optical characterization methods, and performance-validation processes
• Support environmental tests (TVAC, vibe, shock), monitor optical performance, and ensure compliance with mission requirements
• Drive resolution of integration issues, test anomalies, and optical performance deviations—we hustle and we do the impossible
• Work cross-functionally with Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, and AIT teams to ensure seamless optical-mechanical-electrical integration
• Support customer reviews, data packages, and technical briefings
• Identify opportunities to improve alignment methods, test tooling, and data-analysis workflows

What This Job Offers

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