Rocket Lab · 1 day ago
Principal Engineer/Senior Principal Engineer
Long Beach, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$170K/yr - $255K/yr
12+ years expRocket Lab is an end-to-end space company focused on delivering responsive launch services and spacecraft design. The Principal/Senior Principal Engineer will oversee satellite programs, providing technical leadership and support for spacecraft system engineering, including requirement derivation and verification techniques.
AerospaceManufacturingSoftwareSpace Travel
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Provide oversight and review of spacecraft system engineering, including:
Requirement derivation
System and subsystem requirement verification techniques
Vehicle performance budgets
Test methods and data analysis
Simulation and analysis
Technical leadership in future architectures, platform, and payloads for future missions both internal and external
Assist or lead system and subsystem architectural developments for existing missions
Assist with program and product management
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in engineering or other technical discipline
12+ years of experience supporting satellite or spacecraft programs
Understanding of spacecraft subsystems and their associated components
Thorough understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics
Experience with satellite operations
U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements
Bachelor's degree in engineering or other technical discipline
15+ years of experience supporting satellite or spacecraft programs
Understanding of spacecraft subsystems and their associated components
Thorough understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics
Experience with satellite operations
U.S. citizenship is required, due to program 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
Preferred
Master's or PhD in an engineering or other technical discipline
Active TS/SCI clearance
Experience with MATLAB, Python, and STK
Experience with testing electrical subsystems and assemblies, thermal vacuum or random vibration, and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing
Ability to work in a dynamic environment with competing priorities
Benefits
Top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option
Dental and vision coverage
3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year
11 paid holidays per year
Flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts
Paid parental leave
Disability insurance
Life insurance
Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match
Discounted employee stock purchase program
Subsidized EV charging stations
Onsite gym
Food and drinks
Other discounts
Company
Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is an aerospace company that provides launch services, spacecraft design, and manufacturing of satellite components.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$1.98BKey Investors
Canadian Space AgencyU.S. Department of CommerceTrinity Capital
2025-12-09Grant
2025-09-15Post Ipo Equity· $750M
2024-11-25Grant· $23.9M
Leadership Team
Adam Spice
Chief Financial Officer
Frank Klein
Chief Operations Officer
Recent News
2025-12-30
2025-12-28
Company data provided by crunchbase