Avionics Design Manager

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.

The Avionics Design team in Rocket Lab’s Space Systems division is responsible for full end‑to‑end development of Avionics hardware for our satellite platforms. As Manager of Avionics Design, you will lead a team of Electrical Engineers to design, prototype, fabricate, test, and produce Avionics hardware for Rocket Lab Space System’s spacecraft programs. This role includes people and technical lead responsibilities. You will work with the director/manager of the department to plan project assignments for your team and be responsible for on‑time delivery of hardware to programs.

You will also serve as a technical leader in our spacecraft electrical system architecture.

• Technical Leadership
  • Responsible for the execution of the development of Avionics subsystems for spacecraft programs.
  • Manage project timelines and ensure hardware is delivered on schedule.
  • Help scope work and estimate timelines for new product developments and program proposals.
  • Ensure Avionics products comply with industry standards, regulatory requirements, export controls and company specifications.
  • Support implementation of new processes and practices to promote efficient design flow and team communication.
  • Help identify technical areas of improvement, create proposals for changes and request additional resources.
• People Leadership
  • Lead and mentor a team of avionics engineers, providing technical guidance and conducting performance reviews.
  • Coordinate with other teams to ensure seamless progression through development, testing, procurement, and integration.
  • Be involved in recruiting new engineers and work with the department director/manager to grow the team.

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, aerospace, computer engineering, or other engineering degree.
• 8+ years of electrical engineering or avionics design experience.
• Experience in leading avionics projects for satellite development programs.
• Proficiency in electronic principles and electrical systems, including power electronics, communication systems (RS‑422, SPI, Ethernet, CAN bus), signal integrity, and grounding.
• Thorough understanding of space environments and considerations, including radiation tolerance for in‑orbit electronics design.
• Experience in the end‑to‑end development of electronic product design: schematic capture, PCBA layout, design verification testing, analysis, reviews, documentation, and production.
• U.S. citizenship is required.

• Master’s or PhD in electrical, aerospace, computer engineering, or other engineering degree.
• Prior management experience of engineering teams.
• Knowledge of FPGA firmware and ability to create basic images to test hardware.
• Experience with LT Spice, Altium, and/or Siemens software suite (e.g., Teamcenter).
• Experience with requirement management tools such as JAMA.
• Hands‑on experience with testing electrical subsystems and assemblies, thermal vacuum, random vibration, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing.
• Proficiency with instrumentation, interfaces, and sensors.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements, markings, designators, and controls for ITAR‑controlled hardware.
• Experience with engineering organization tools such as Confluence, Jira, Sharepoint, and Smartsheets.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with competing priorities.
• Familiar with environmental and risk reduction testing for space products.
• Demonstrated success meeting aggressive development schedules.

• Specific vision abilities: 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…