Senior Harness Design Engineer I

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

Space Systems

Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft and precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more. The team has enabled more than 1,700 missions ranging from interplanetary exploration and in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives, and has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars in partnership with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

About the role

Based out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Harness Design Engineer I will primarily focus on the design, development, and integration of electrical harnesses for our spacecraft. This includes defining interfaces, selecting components, specifying split locations and lengths, and generating design documentation to support the spacecraft engineering team. The role collaborates with systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and assembly, integration, and test (AIT) teams to ensure seamless integration of harness systems into spacecraft, emphasizing electrical engineering principles such as wiring diagram development, interface definition, and electrical system architecture interpretation across the full lifecycle from design to fabrication and integration.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electrical harness systems for spacecraft, including connector and backshell selection, wire selection, shielding, and routing.
• Generate wiring diagrams, pinout tables, and interface definitions for harness systems based on spacecraft interconnect diagrams.
• Collaborate with systems engineering to interpret system architecture and define electrical interfaces.
• Create and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) for harness systems in the product lifecycle management (PLM) tool.
• Develop and maintain fabrication drawings and documentation for harness systems using tools such as Capital Essentials, NX, and Teamcenter.
• Support harness fabrication processes, ensuring compliance with space-grade standards and industry best practices.
• Define and verify harness acceptance criteria, including electrical testing and inspection.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and AIT) to ensure proper integration of harnesses into spacecraft.
• Perform electrical design and analysis to ensure harness systems meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements.
• Support electrical system schematics and harness design documentation.
• Participate in design reviews, providing technical input and ensuring harness designs meet program requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve electrical issues related to harness systems during fabrication, integration, and testing.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering; or other engineering degree.
• 5+ years of electrical engineering or avionics experience.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering; or other engineering degree.
• Experience in the aerospace/defense industry.
• Experience supporting satellite development programs and satellite operations.
• Proficiency in electrical engineering principles, including power distribution, signal integrity, grounding, and communication systems (e.g., RS-422, SPI, Ethernet, CAN bus).
• Experience with harness design tools such as Capital Essentials, NX, and Teamcenter.
• Familiarity with industry standards for harness design and fabrication (e.g., NASA-STD-8739.4, IPC/WHMA-A-620).
• Experience with electrical testing of harness systems, including continuity testing, insulation resistance testing, and functional testing.
• Knowledge of thermal and mechanical considerations for harness routing and integration.
• Familiarity with requirement management tools such as JAMA.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with competing priorities.
• Ability to obtain a Top Secret Clearance.

Benefits

• Company stock as part of total compensation.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
• Top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution).
• Dental and vision coverage.
• Paid vacation and sick time.
• 11 paid holidays.
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
• Paid parental leave.
• Disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Subsidized EV charging.
• Onsite fitness centers (where available) and discounted gym memberships.
• Complimentary snacks and beverages.
• 50% employee discount on company merchandise.
• Variety of other employee discounts.

Pay

Total Compensation (base and equity): $144,275 USD – $206,175 USD

Base Salary: $124,000 USD – $170,500 USD