Senior Software Systems Engineer II

Rocket Lab • Tucson, AZ

21h • Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab Optical Systems develops solutions for space-domain and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. The Senior Software Systems Engineer II designs, develops, integrates, and tests software for space-based electro-optical sensors, instruments, subsystems, and payloads used on airborne and space platforms. The role supports the full software and firmware development process, from requirements through build, integration, testing, and release, and contributes hands-on to flight software and the technical development of Space Systems missions.

Systems engineering work includes maintaining technical budgets, defining and verifying requirements, planning and executing tests, and managing the systems engineering process. The engineer also supports payload development and spacecraft integration, mission assurance, compliance, program and product management, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. The position is based at Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, Arizona, and may involve travel or off-site work as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, specifically software or computer engineering.
• Active clearance.
• At least 8 years of engineering experience in the aerospace industry, including at least 2 years directly supporting software development projects and at least 1 year in project or team leadership.
• Strong knowledge of interpreting organizational, software, and hardware technical documents.
• Demonstrable systems software engineering experience focused on developing, testing, and integrating with space or airborne instruments.
• Experience with requirements management, workflow, and modeling tools such as JAMA, DOORS, JIRA, or Cameo.
• Experience supporting development programs.
• U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Master’s or PhD in engineering, specifically software or computer engineering.
• EO/IR payload integration experience.
• Proficiency in system modeling and analysis tools such as Cameo, MATLAB, Simulink, or equivalent.
• Experience with the Software Development Lifecycle from requirements development through systems operations and maintenance.
• Knowledge of software interfaces and communications protocols.
• Hands-on expertise leading troubleshooting and resolution of system-level issues.
• Demonstrated experience working with minimal supervision in complex projects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and explain complex implementation processes to other organization members.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, and develop software for space-based optical instruments, subsystems, and payloads for airborne and space platforms.
• Interpret system architecture and derive and allocate software and firmware requirements across interfaces and subsystems.
• Support the software and firmware development pipeline from requirements through build, integration, test, and release.
• Develop and maintain technical budgets for vehicle performance, software system requirements and verification techniques, simulations and analysis across vehicle functions, test methods, and data analysis.
• Provide technical oversight of system software architecture, interfaces, mission assurance, and compliance.
• Assist with programs and product management.
• Collaborate with team members to develop interface specifications, CONOPS definitions, and other design documents.
• Support development and testing of space payloads integrated on spacecraft platforms.
• Execute software verification test campaigns on flatsats, development units, or flight units, including setup, dry runs, and formal verification runs.
• Verify software build and configuration under test and confirm the as-tested configuration matches the intended verification.
• Support authoring, derivation, and verification of software and firmware requirements, maintaining requirements traceability and addressing conflicts or gaps.
• Participate in technical interchange meetings and represent the organization in project discussions with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Mentor engineers on systems engineering, requirements, and verification and validation methodologies.
• Support travel or off-site work as needed.

What This Job Offers

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