Senior Integration & Test Engineer I

At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separati...

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Develop...

Based out of Rocket Lab's Pasadena, CA office, the Senior Integration & Test Engineer I is responsible for the integration, test, and verification of flight mechatronic and motion systems, including motor control electronics, actuators, motors, and mechanisms, from the component level through subsystem and spacecraf...

Lead and own integration and test campaigns for flight motion systems at various levels of assembly, from actuators and mechanisms through subsystem and spacecraft
Integrate and test motor control electronics with motors, actuators, and mechanisms, including closed-loop performance characterization (torque, speed, position, and current loop behavior)
Work collaboratively with design, controls, and systems engineers to define requirements, as well as verification and validation (V&V) plans and requirements compliance
Develop and present materials for customer and company stakeholder reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR
Develop acceptance, qualification, and R&D test plans and procedures for flight mechanisms and motion systems
Plan and execute environmental qualification and acceptance testing (Vibe, Shock, TVAC, Thermal, EMI/EMC, etc.), including functional and performance testing before, during, and after environmental exposure
Develop, maintain, and operate mechanical and electrical ground support equipment, such as motor/load test stands, dynamometers, and test fixtures
Develop and maintain test automation and data acquisition for motion systems; interface with ground test software and implement flight software configuration changes
Lead investigations into anomalous mechanism and motor control behavior, driving root cause and corrective action
Interface with hardware-in-the-loop test systems

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, mechatronics, aerospace, or other engineering degree
5+ years of experience in a test engineering or other hands-on engineering role
Hands-on mechatronics experience integrating and testing motor control electronics, motors, actuators, or mechanisms
Working knowledge of brushless DC, permanent magnet synchronous, or stepper motors, their drive electronics, and feedback sensors such as encoders, resolvers, and Hall sensors
Experience with environmental testing, such as thermal vacuum or random vibration testing
Proficiency with C, C++, Python, or MATLAB; and Windows 10 and Microsoft Office products
Experience in writing technical documentation, such as procedures, reports, and requirements
U.S. citizenship due to program requirements
Experience integrating and testing flight systems for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or other aerospace platforms
Experience with precision motion systems, such as gimbals, robotic arms, pointing mechanisms, deployment mechanisms, or reaction wheels
Experience on hardware that has completed formal qualification and acceptance testing and a full V&V lifecycle
Understanding of control systems fundamentals and motor control techniques, such as field-oriented control and current, velocity, and position loop tuning
Experience working in a clean room and with ESD-sensitive equipment
Hands-on experience using electrical test equipment (PSU, Oscilloscope, DMM, Power Analyzer, Current Probes, etc.)
Exposure to designing and implementing test systems for electromechanical hardware
Understanding of sensors, signal conditioning and data acquisition electronics
Experience with 3D CAD and ECAD software, preferably SolidWorks and Altium
Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing

Citizenship of AU / NZ / EU / NATO