Senior Special Test Equipment; STE Engineer

Overview

Tucson, AZ – Rocket Lab is an end‑to‑end space company that delivers launch services, spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more. The rockets and satellites we build support scientific exploration, Earth observation, climate‑change missions, national security, and new technology demonstrations. Our Space Systems team designs and builds satellites and components for NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as for the U.S. Space Force and other partners.

Based at the Optical Systems site in Tucson, you will design, integrate, validate, and sustain optical test equipment used to characterize, calibrate, and verify advanced optical payloads. You will build and maintain optical test stations, alignment tools, and calibration workflows while supporting data capture, troubleshooting, and test execution. You will work closely with Optics, Mechanical, Electrical, and AIT teams to ensure STE performance meets mission and system‑level requirements.

• Design, develop, integrate, and validate optical Special Test Equipment (STE) used for payload characterization, calibration, and alignment.
• Build and maintain optical test stations, fixtures, alignment tools, and automation setups.
• Execute hands‑on optical integration tasks: bench setup, alignment, calibration, data capture, and troubleshooting.
• Write and maintain optical test procedures, calibration scripts, and acceptance criteria.
• Support anomaly resolution, corrective actions, and performance improvements – we hustle.
• Improve STE throughput, accuracy, and maintainability, ensuring test processes stay ever evolving.
• Collaborate with Optics, Mechanical, Electrical, and AIT teams to ensure STE meets system‑level requirements.
• Support environmental testing and correlation of optical performance before/after test campaigns.

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years’ experience building or supporting optical or electro‑optical test setups.
• Hands‑on experience with optical alignment, metrology tools, and lab‑level integration.
• Ability to develop clear technical documentation and test procedures.
• Strong troubleshooting, data analysis, and lab execution skills.
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include 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 communicate verbally and in writing.
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings.
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes and moderate levels of noise.
• Ability to support hands‑on optical alignment and test activities, including occasional off‑shift work.
• Some travel to support test facilities and partner sites.

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others deem impossible. Our people out‑think, out‑work, and out‑pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, keeping egos in check, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks, big and small.

We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and focus on delivering rather than dwelling on challenges.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.