Senior AI&T Engineering II/Principal (Optical) - Secret Clearance
About The Position
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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
