Senior Systems Engineer II

About the role

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

Rocket Lab Robotics specializes in high-performance robotic systems and precision mechanisms that enable the most ambitious space missions, including NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover and CADRE lunar rovers. Leveraging Mars-proven expertise from Motiv Space Systems, we deliver scalable, flight-proven solutions – such as robotic arms, motion control systems, and solar array drive assemblies (SADAs) – to support planetary exploration, satellite servicing, and national security missions.

Senior Systems Engineer II

• Act as the project technical lead or cognizant engineer for complex robotic systems and major subsystems.
• Own system architecture, requirements, interfaces, verification methods, and acceptance criteria throughout the development lifecycle.
• Develop, decompose, and manage system requirements and interface control documents (ICDs), maintaining traceability from customer/mission needs down to subsystem and component specifications.
• Lead cross-functional technical execution and drive major technical decisions, trades, risks, and issue closure.
• Define and manage hardware-software interfaces, communication architectures, operating modes, fault responses, and system behaviors.
• Lead integration and troubleshooting of robotic hardware, controls software, ROS/ROS2 applications, sensors, actuators, and test systems.
• Develop and maintain CONOPS, system requirements, ICDs, technical budgets, verification plans, and technical decision records.
• Plan and lead system integration, verification, validation, qualification, and acceptance activities.
• Lead formal technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and acceptance reviews and present technical status to customers and leadership.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and provide technical guidance on systems engineering and robotics integration.
• Support program management with technical inputs to schedule, risk, and cost/effort estimates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, software, robotics, systems engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of engineering experience developing, integrating, or delivering robotic, mechatronic, or complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience serving as a technical lead, cognizant engineer, project engineer, or system owner.
• Demonstrated experience across the full development lifecycle, including requirements development, integration, and verification/validation.
• Hands-on experience integrating and troubleshooting robotics hardware and software.
• Experience coordinating software, controls, electrical, and mechanical teams to deliver integrated robotic systems.
• Strong grasp of systems engineering fundamentals: requirements management, ICDs, trade studies, risk management, and V&V.
• Experience interfacing directly with customers and leading or supporting formal technical reviews.

What You'll Get To Do

• Act as the project technical lead or cognizant engineer for complex robotic systems and major subsystems.
• Own system architecture, requirements, interfaces, verification methods, and acceptance criteria throughout the development lifecycle.
• Develop, decompose, and manage system requirements and interface control documents (ICDs), maintaining traceability from customer/mission needs down to subsystem and component specifications.
• Lead cross-functional technical execution and drive major technical decisions, trades, risks, and issue closure.
• Define and manage hardware-software interfaces, communication architectures, operating modes, fault responses, and system behaviors.
• Lead integration and troubleshooting of robotic hardware, controls software, ROS/ROS2 applications, sensors, actuators, and test systems.
• Develop and maintain CONOPS, system requirements, ICDs, technical budgets, verification plans, and technical decision records.
• Plan and lead system integration, verification, validation, qualification, and acceptance activities.
• Lead formal technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and acceptance reviews and present technical status to customers and leadership.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and provide technical guidance on systems engineering and robotics integration.
• Support program management with technical inputs to schedule, risk, and cost/effort estimates.

Qualifications You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, software, robotics, systems engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of engineering experience developing, integrating, or delivering robotic, mechatronic, or complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience serving as a technical lead, cognizant engineer, project engineer, or system owner.
• Demonstrated experience across the full development lifecycle, including requirements development, integration, and verification/validation.
• Hands-on experience integrating and troubleshooting robotics hardware and software.
• Experience coordinating software, controls, electrical, and mechanical teams to deliver integrated robotic systems.
• Strong grasp of systems engineering fundamentals: requirements management, ICDs, trade studies, risk management, and V&V.
• Experience interfacing directly with customers and leading or supporting formal technical reviews.

What To Expect

• We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible.
• We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small.
• We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.