Senior Flight Software Engineer II - Secret Clearance

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Flight Software Engineer II to support flight software development for its Space Systems programs, based at company headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role spans software design and development from requirements definition through coding and testing, with software expected to be deployed on orbit within weeks or months. The position also supports flight operations for on-orbit and interplanetary missions. The engineer develops embedded application software and hardware drivers for spacecraft systems, works with software, hardware-in-the-loop, systems, and embedded systems teams, and contributes to requirements validation, code reviews, and design reviews. The role may involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, as well as occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas. U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements. The position requires an active Secret clearance and the ability to obtain TS/SCI.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or an equivalent technical discipline.
Active Secret clearance and ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance.
At least 8 years of applicable embedded software development experience.
Proficiency in C and C++.
Experience with an RTOS or embedded Linux.
U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.

Nice To Haves

Active TS/SCI security clearance.
Advanced degree.
Experience developing software and drivers using CAN/CAN-FD and/or UDP/TCP within an embedded system.
Experience developing software for autonomous vehicles operating in harsh environments, such as satellites or autonomous vehicles.

Responsibilities

Develop application software for real-time operating systems (RTOS) and/or embedded Linux.
Develop hardware drivers to interface with spacecraft sensors and actuators, including IMUs, star trackers, and reaction wheels.
Develop and maintain comprehensive unit tests for execution within a Continuous Integration framework.
Work with hardware-in-the-loop test engineers to verify and validate combined software and hardware functionality.
Collaborate with systems and embedded systems engineers to develop, document, and validate requirements.
Review source code changes and ensure they meet company coding standards.
Participate in design reviews, including PDR and CDR.
Assist with on-orbit and interplanetary flight operations.

Benefits

Company stock as part of total compensation.
Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
Medical plans, including HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with a company HSA contribution.
Dental and vision coverage.
Paid vacation and sick time.
11 paid holidays.
Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
Paid parental leave.
Disability and life insurance.
401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Subsidized EV charging.
Onsite fitness centers where available.
Discounted gym memberships.
Complimentary snacks and beverages.
50% employee discount on the company merch store.
Other employee discounts.