Rocket Lab · 1 day ago
Principal Electrical Engineer - Secret Clearance
Tucson, AZ
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff
12+ years expRocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services and spacecraft design. The Principal Electrical Engineer will lead a team of electrical engineers, providing technical guidance and managing functional budgets while ensuring the successful design and analysis of electrical systems for space applications.
AerospaceManufacturingSoftwareSpace Travel
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Manage and lead a team of electrical engineers by fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment
Set clear objectives, provide regular feedback, and support the professional development of team members
Develop a professional engineering team culture to meet deadlines and uphold personal accountability
Manage the functional budget, generate ROI assessments for discretionary efforts such as process improvements or tool development, and control overhead charging rates to specified levels
Provide expert guidance and mentorship to the electrical engineering team by offering insights and solutions to complex technical challenges
Stay updated with the latest advancements in electrical engineering technology and guide the team in adopting best practices and innovative approaches
Act as core assessor in engineering gate reviews and peer review events to ensure work quality and task closure
Lead and participate in the design, analysis, and optimization of electrical systems for space applications
Use software tools, simulations, and analytical techniques to assess electrical design performance, and quality, power management, impedance matching, as well as digital, high frequency and nodal analysis
Determine the architecture and lead the detailed electronics analysis and design using both digital and analog circuit design skills
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including mechanical engineers, optical engineers, and systems engineers to ensure seamless integration of electrical systems into satellite platforms
Foster effective communication and teamwork across departments
Prepare technical reports, project documentation, technical proposals, and presentations to communicate progress, findings, and recommendations to internal stakeholders and external partners
Implement and support rigorous quality control measures throughout the electrical engineering process to ensure compliance with industry standards and customer requirements
Establish processes and design guidelines to support seamless handoff to production and long-term production scaling
Develop and measure a strong set of metrics for engineering development activities
Identify and assess potential risks and challenges in electrical design and development projects
Develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans to minimize project disruptions and ensure successful outcomes
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering; or other engineering discipline
12+ years of electrical hardware experience
Active U.S. Government security clearance
Demonstrable experience in electrical engineering, with a strong focus on designing and developing electrical systems for space applications to include all facets of electronics design including high level architectural development, low level design of high speed, analog and digital printed circuit boards that will include interfacing with different communications buses
Extensive design experience in meeting rigid EMI/EMC guidelines
Design experience with opto-electronics background in low-noise, high gain opto-electronic circuitry, electrical amplification, and various other optical diode detection components
Design experience with ability to migrate from R&D to Full Scale Production within a well-regulated AS9100 (ISO 9001) environment including accurate schematic capture, BOM creation, thermal, and timing analysis
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex electrical systems and propose effective solutions
Excellent management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage resources, and deliver results within given constraints
Demonstrated leadership skills with experience managing and mentoring technical teams
Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and present technical information to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Preferred
Master's or PhD in electrical or computer engineering; or other engineering discipline
Experience designing for space environments, including radiation impacts and mitigation
Experience designing for high-reliability aerospace applications
Demonstrated success working in a dynamic environment and ability to manage competing priorities
Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance
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
2026-01-23
2026-01-23
Company data provided by crunchbase