Avionics Engineer - Design

Avionics Engineer - Design

Auckland, NZ

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.

Rocket Lab's Space Systems team is responsible for every satellite and satellite component made by Rocket Lab: from complete satellites destined for missions to the Moon and Mars, to the individual components and subsystems that make up a satellite like solar panels, flight software, reaction wheels and star trackers, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team is made up of engineers, technicians, and designers who design, create, and put together our own satellites for missions across the commercial, government, and defense sectors, or who build and assemble satellite hardware and software that supports other satellite missions.

Design and develop flight-quality PCBAs for spacecraft avionics systems, including schematic capture, component selection, circuit design for power electronics and control systems, and collaboration with PCB layout designers

Conduct electrical analyses including worst-case analysis, power budgets, thermal derating, and signal integrity assessments to verify design robustness

Participate in hands-on bring-up, debugging, and verification of prototype hardware, plus support environmental testing activities (Thermal Vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC)

Create and maintain comprehensive design documentation including schematics, bills of materials, test reports, and design justification documents

Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Test, Manufacturing, Systems Engineering, and other subsystem groups to resolve interface issues and support integrated system development

Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electronics, or related field with 1-3+ years of experience in electronics design or hardware development

Strong foundation in electronics fundamentals: power electronics, analogue and digital circuit design, signal integrity, and grounding principles

Proficiency in schematic capture and PCB layout using eCAD tools (Altium Designer preferred) and circuit simulation tools (LTspice, SPICE, or equivalent)

Hands-on experience with standard laboratory instrumentation and ability to read datasheets, perform component-level analysis, and troubleshoot hardware issues

Strong documentation skills and effective communication abilities to work within cross-functional engineering teams

Experience designing power electronics (DC-DC converters, linear regulators, power distribution circuits) or motor drive electronics

Familiarity with space-specific design considerations such as radiation effects, thermal management in vacuum, component derating, or aerospace qualification testing

Experience performing detailed electrical analyses (Worst-Case Analysis, thermal analysis, power budgeting) and understanding of DFM/DFT principles

Programming experience (Python, MATLAB) for data analysis/test automation or familiarity with FPGA development (Verilog/VHDL)

Understanding of requirements management and configuration control processes in regulated or high-reliability environments