SPACE SYSTEMS

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team is responsible for every satellite and satellite component made by Rocket Lab: from complete satellites destined for missions to the Moon and Mars, to the individual components and subsystems that make up a satellite like solar panels, flight software, reaction wheels and star trackers, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team is made up of engineers, technicians, and designers who design, create, and put together our own satellites for missions across the commercial, government, and defense sectors, or who build and assemble satellite hardware and software that supports other satellite missions.

SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Planetary Systems Corporation by Rocket Lab (PSC) is a manufacturer of aerospace and satellite mechanisms, including separation systems, on-orbit devices, and other electro-mechanical deployables.

We’re seeking a Senior Software Engineer who also has experience with electronic design. As a new role for this business unit, this position will give you the opportunity (and challenge!) to develop and implement many new processes, with a focus on the R&D engineering department. You will support the Engineering Director and Space Systems organization.

This role sits onsite at Rocket Lab’s PSC site in Silver Spring, Maryland – remote work is not considered.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• Design, test and improve software to:
  • Control and operate electro-mechanical components and test equipment.
  • Acquire and log sensor data for production and R&D tests.
  • Post-process test and production data.
• Develop procedures and best practices for software creation and revision management.
• Participate in product development testing to validate R&D products.
• Develop intuitive graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
• Process wealth of existing electrical telemetry data to extract KPIs, provide historical references and analyze product operation trends.
• Assist with data analysis for non-conformance investigations.
• Provide technical expertise in the design of the electrical and control portions of motor-driven R&D mechanisms and robotic systems. (Typically <48 VDC and <10A for sense of scale)

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant engineering field and 5 years’ experience in software engineering
• Embedded system design experience
• Comprehensive C knowledge
• Thorough visual programming knowledge
• Experience working in a scrum / agile environment

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Master’s degree in software or electronic engineering
• Experience with C#, Python, VBA and LabVIEW
• Electronic engineering experience
• Experience with electric-motor driven systems
• Experience using APIs in engineering software

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing. 
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes and moderate levels of noise.