Senior Harness Design Engineer I

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

18h•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is hiring a Senior Harness Design Engineer I for its Space Systems team, based at the company’s global headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role focuses on the design, development, and integration of electrical harnesses for spacecraft, including defining interfaces, selecting components, specifying split locations and lengths, and producing design documentation for the spacecraft engineering team. The engineer will work with systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and assembly, integration, and test (AIT) teams to integrate harness systems into spacecraft. The position applies electrical engineering principles to wiring diagrams, interface definition, and interpretation of electrical system architecture, and supports harness engineering across design, fabrication, and integration. The position may involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, as well as occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering, or another engineering degree.
At least 5 years of electrical engineering or avionics experience.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering, or another engineering degree.
Experience in the aerospace or defense industry.
Experience supporting satellite development programs and satellite operations.
Proficiency in electrical engineering principles, including power distribution, signal integrity, grounding, and communication systems such as RS-422, SPI, Ethernet, and CAN bus.
Experience with harness design tools such as Capital Essentials, NX, and Teamcenter.
Familiarity with harness design and fabrication standards such as NASA-STD-8739.4 and IPC/WHMA-A-620.
Experience with harness electrical testing, including continuity, insulation resistance, and functional testing.
Knowledge of thermal and mechanical considerations for harness routing and integration.
Familiarity with requirement management tools such as JAMA.
Ability to work in a dynamic environment with competing priorities.
Ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

Design and develop spacecraft electrical harness systems, including connector and backshell selection, wire selection, shielding, and routing.
Generate wiring diagrams, pinout tables, and harness interface definitions from spacecraft interconnect diagrams.
Work with systems engineering to interpret system architecture and define electrical interfaces.
Create and maintain harness Bills of Materials in the product lifecycle management (PLM) tool.
Develop and maintain harness fabrication drawings and documentation using tools such as Capital Essentials, NX, and Teamcenter.
Support harness fabrication and ensure compliance with space-grade standards and industry best practices.
Define and verify harness acceptance criteria, including electrical testing and inspection.
Collaborate with systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and AIT teams to integrate harnesses into spacecraft.
Perform electrical design and analysis to ensure harness systems meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements.
Support electrical system schematics and harness design documentation.
Participate in design reviews, provide technical input, and ensure harness designs meet program requirements.
Troubleshoot and resolve harness-related electrical issues during fabrication, integration, and testing.

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 merchandise store.
Other employee discounts.