Senior R&D Engineer - Qualification & Reliability

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—all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation, and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Based out of Rocket Lab's site in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Senior R&D Engineer – Qualification & Reliability will work in an R&D environment and lead space qualification, confidence, and reliability testing work critical to the introduction of new technologies, materials, and processes. The role involves solving multidisciplinary design problems related to new missions, materials, and product development.

• Develop both a theoretical and practical working knowledge of environmental tests related to qualification and reliability testing of multi‑junction solar cells for space and terrestrial applications and the governing standards and specifications used in the industry.
• Design and use electrical circuitry and hardware to enable environmental testing/characterization of multijunction solar cells and multiple solar cell devices simultaneously.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the entire suite of test equipment used to characterize and rate the performance of multi‑junction solar cells, including Quantum Efficiency, Pulsed and Continuous Illuminated Current‑Voltage, Dark Current‑Voltage, Transfer Length Measurement, Electro Luminescence, Reflectance, Absorptance, Emissivity, Mechanical bend/breakage, Capacitance, etc.
• Develop a detailed understanding of the design, construction, manufacturing methods, and operating principles of series‑interconnected multi‑junction solar cells and how changes to any of these may affect the performance or reliability of these devices in various operating environments (LEO/GEO orbits, interplanetary, terrestrial, etc.).
• Develop a detailed understanding of how environmental factors such as temperature, illumination intensity, illumination uniformity, spectral characteristics, particle and UV radiation, atomic oxygen exposure, thermal cycling, thermal shock, humidity, ESD, mechanical shock/vibration, etc. influence the operation and performance of multi‑junction solar cells and integrated products.
• Develop a detailed understanding of semiconductor bandgaps, their influence on light absorption, light emission, photogenerated current production, and voltage production in solar cells.
• Identify the important parameters that can be extracted from an IV curve such as short‑circuit current, open‑circuit voltage, fill factor, shunt resistance, series resistance, ideality factor, and the phenomena that are responsible for variability in the above parameters.
• Combine the understanding described above to investigate solar cell device failure mechanisms to root cause.
• Combine the understanding described above to allow accurate definition of the problem or need, identification of the correct measurement method to address the need, efficient and correct use of the measurement tool, and meaningful and high‑value analysis of the data.
• Combine the understanding described above to plan, manage, and execute qualification, confidence, and reliability testing campaigns.
• Analyze and interpret test data utilizing tools such as Excel and JMP and confidently present thoughtful and correct analysis to team members.
• Interact with other R&D and manufacturing engineers to plan and execute required testing activities.
• Interact with outside vendors to develop required tools and equipment for testing activities.
• Report results both internally and externally with presentations and formal reports utilizing tools such as PPT and Office.
• Develop strong working relationships across the organization.
• Develop a detailed understanding of the customer base and design/operation requirements for space and terrestrial solar cells.
• Develop the tools and experience needed to take ownership of…