Principal Optical Engineer

About The Role

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

SPACE SYSTEMS

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, separation systems, radios, and more. 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 Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

PRINCIPAL OPTICAL ENGINEER

Rocket Lab’s Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.

• Guide/author data collection and analysis software
• Collaborate closely with firmware development, electronics interface control, and optical teams
• Use excellent investigative and trouble-shooting skills to assess issues and develop resolutions in the lab and in the field
• 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 the development of projects
• 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
• Develop detection and calibration algorithms for optical systems throughout their product lifecycle
• Simulate all parts of the electro-optical payloads: radiometric, detector, optical prescriptions

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
• 12+ years of experience in optical systems development, performance modeling, and data analysis
• Hands-on experience with optical alignment, metrology, interferometry, and imaging-system characterization
• Hands-on expertise with electro-optical systems, imaging systems, light sources, and/or military/space payloads
• Strong data analysis, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Working knowledge of MATLAB, python, Zemax (or similar software), FRED

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have:

• Master’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field. PhD preferred.
• Experience with EO/IR payloads, infrared focal planes, or space-based sensor systems
• Experience with stray light design and analysis for visible and infrared systems
• Experience writing alignment procedures, test scripts, and verification plans
• Experience with automated test equipment or optical STE
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

Important Information

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com. This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY: For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.