IR Image Analysis)

Rocket Lab•Tucson, AZ

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division addresses critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our goal is to innovate the space-based payload market with novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Leveraging over 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems provides responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains. As a Senior/Principal Systems Engineer (EO/IR) in Tucson, AZ, you will collaborate with design and systems engineering teams, offering quantitative technical guidance, requirements decomposition, modeling and simulation, algorithm assessment, and EO/IR sensor performance evaluation. Join a dedicated team focused on challenging projects and shaping the future of space.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in physics, optical sciences, science, or other technical discipline
Active Secret/Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility
U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements
8+ years of professional experience (for Senior Systems Engineer II)
12+ years of professional experience (for Principal Systems Engineer)
Experience with Python and/or MATLAB for analysis, modeling, simulation, or algorithm development
Experience with algorithm design, implementation, analysis, testing, and optimization
Ability to contribute to the completion of program and project milestones

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or PhD in Physics, optical sciences, science, or another technical discipline
Hands-on expertise with electro-optical systems, infrared imaging systems, light sources, military systems, and/or space payloads
Working knowledge of MATLAB, Python, and C++ computer languages, including computer interfacing techniques
Knowledge of optical design and analysis tools such as Zemax, Code V, and FRED
Expertise in modeling and simulation, including multiple EO/IR phenomenologies
Subject matter expertise using MATLAB or Python for analysis of complex data sets
Experience with space systems applications supporting customer programs
Experience briefing analysis results to technical and non-technical government customers
Experience across all phases of product development, including proposal design architectures, requirements generation, design development, integration, verification, and transition to production
Experience managing or leading others in a technical and/or functional capacity within an engineering environment
Excellent communication and documentation skills
Experience in a dynamic and high-visibility role
Team player incorporating a team-based success philosophy

Responsibilities

Collaborate with researchers on projects related to machine learning, artificial intelligence, and computer vision
Perform rapid prototyping and enhanced development to support integration into operational systems
Develop and modify simulations for the design, prototyping, integration, testing, and performance assessment of EO/IR sensor hardware and algorithms
Contribute strong programming ability and technical judgment to develop robust solutions for real-world mission problems
Validate, optimize, and deploy advanced exploitation algorithms, including algorithm design, implementation, analysis, testing, and optimization
Guide and author data collection, analysis, and performance assessment software
Decompose high-level customer requirements into EO/IR subsystem requirements to inform hardware, software, firmware, and systems engineering execution
Collaborate closely with firmware development, electronics interface control, hardware engineering, software engineering, and systems engineering teams
Design calibration and characterization experiments for EO/IR sensors, sensor models, and supporting test equipment
Participate in engineering lab environments to test, verify, and validate sensor models and EO/IR sensor performance in accordance with requirements
Use excellent investigative and troubleshooting skills to assess issues and develop resolutions in the lab and in the field
Work proactively to complete tasks with little direction
Communicate effectively with project management, customers, and team members across disciplines
Attend technical interchange meetings with team members and other project personnel, and represent the organization in matters pertaining to project development
Provide status on assigned tasks and program schedules
Review documents and resolve technical engineering and integration issues
Manage time and resources in order to meet assigned deadlines
Support travel or off-site work, as needed
Perform other duties as assigned