Principal Systems Engineer - Mission Architecture

Principal Systems Engineer – Mission Architecture

Based out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA the Principal Systems Engineer is responsible for leading the formulation of all new satellite systems, supporting capture of new civil, national security, and commercial business. You will manage the development and maintenance of technical budgets, requirements definition, test planning and execution, and overall management of the systems engineering process, including validation of customer requirements. You will support the Vice President of Business Development and Strategy and the broader Space Systems Business Development organization, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

What You'll Get To Do:

• Lead Rocket Lab's satellite engineering formulation supporting business development and new opportunity capture
• Develop and maintain:
• • Technical budgets for vehicle performance
  • System requirements and verification techniques
  • Simulations and analysis across vehicle functions
  • Test methods and data analysis
• Lead and own technical development of spacecraft missions
• Assist with program and product management
• Develop, in collaboration with team members, interface specifications, CONOPS definition, and other design documents
• Work directly with customers and our internal leadership team to shape requirements and write the core architecture for key proposals

You'll Bring These Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical engineering discipline)
• 12+ years of experience in the aerospace industry
• Experience supporting satellite and/or spacecraft development programs
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• US citizenship is required, due to program requirements

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have:

• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Master's or PhD in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical engineering discipline)
• Understanding of key spacecraft subsystems and their associated components, including: attitude determination and control (ADCS), electrical power systems (EPS), space-ground communications, on-orbit command and data handling (C&DH), and thermal control
• Thorough understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics
• Highly effective and professional verbal and written communication skills with team and internal/external customers
• Previous experience with proposals and tech volume authorship
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, and STK
• Experience with CAD modeling and drawing
• Experience with requirement management tools such as JAMA or DOORS
• Experience with satellite operations
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with competing priorities