Senior Harness Design Engineer II Verified today

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more. The Electron rocket has delivered over 230 satellites to orbit. We are developing Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift reusable launch vehicle. Our Space Systems business designs and builds satellites, payloads, and components, including spacecraft selected for NASA missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Role

Based in Long Beach, CA, you will design, develop, and integrate electrical harnesses for our spacecraft. This includes defining interfaces, selecting components, specifying split locations and lengths, and generating design documentation. You will collaborate with systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and assembly, integration, and test (AIT) teams to ensure seamless harness integration.

What You'll Do

Harness Design and Development:

• Design electrical harness systems for spacecraft, including connector and backshell selection, wire selection, shielding, and routing.
• Generate wiring diagrams, pinout tables, and interface definitions based on spacecraft interconnect diagrams.
• Collaborate with systems engineering to interpret system architecture and define electrical interfaces.
• Create and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) in the product lifecycle management (PLM) tool.
• Develop fabrication drawings and documentation using 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 across teams to ensure proper integration of harnesses into spacecraft.

Electrical Engineering:

• 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 designs meet program requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve electrical issues during fabrication, integration, and testing.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or other engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of electrical engineering or avionics experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or other engineering discipline.
• Experience in the aerospace and defense industry.
• Experience supporting satellite development programs and satellite operations.
• Proficiency in electrical engineering principles including power distribution, signal integrity, grounding, and communication systems (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 (NASA-STD-8739.4, IPC/WHMA-A-620).
• Experience with electrical testing of harness systems including continuity, insulation resistance, 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.

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary range (CA only): $140,000 to $210,000 USD. Level and base salary determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Benefits include: top-tier medical HMO, PPO and 100% company-sponsored HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) with company match, discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts. Company equity also available. Eligibility varies by employment status.

Additional Information

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), candidates must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.