Principal Electrical Engineer

Job Title

Principal Electrical Engineer

Role Summary

Lead the development and qualification of avionics and PCBA hardware for advanced electro-optical spacecraft payloads. Work across requirements, architecture, design, prototyping, verification, and production at the Optical Systems site in Chantilly, VA.

Experience Level

Senior — typically 12+ years of progressive electrical hardware design experience in aerospace or other high-reliability industries.

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership for avionics hardware from concept through flight qualification and production.

• Define system and PCBA requirements and lead cross-functional requirements reviews.
• Architect payload-level and module-level electronics integrating FPGAs, processors, ADC/DACs, power systems, imagers, and cryptographic devices.
• Lead schematic capture and PCB layout standards, design reviews, and Altium-based workflows.
• Establish verification, validation, and integration test strategies; direct environmental qualification (EMI/EMC, TVAC, shock, vibration).
• Drive failure analysis, root-cause investigations, and continuous reliability improvements.
• Lead manufacturing and DFM initiatives, supplier and stakeholder engagement, and production yield optimization.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, security, and program experience.

• 12+ years of progressive electrical hardware design experience in aerospace or high-reliability industries with demonstrated technical leadership on complex programs.
• Extensive PCBA design experience including high-speed digital and mixed-signal circuits, FPGAs, ASICs, and microcontrollers.
• Expertise in FPGA architecture and embedded software for ARM-based systems.
• System-level integration experience for processors, FPGAs, switch-mode power supplies, high-speed interfaces, and precision analog instrumentation.
• Strong analog electronics design skills and experience delivering low-noise aerospace solutions.
• Proficiency with circuit analysis and simulation tools (SPICE, MATLAB, or equivalent).
• Deep knowledge of space environment requirements, radiation effects (SEU/SEL) and mitigation strategies.
• Experience leading PCBA verification, validation, and flight qualification activities.
• Hands-on lab instrumentation skills for prototyping, system bring-up, and troubleshooting.
• U.S. citizenship required and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with TVAC, shock, vibration qualification and EMI/EMC mitigation for aerospace systems.
• Advanced Altium Designer mastery, rigid-flex PCB design, and electromechanical integration experience.
• Active TS/SCI or similar U.S. Government security clearance.

Education Requirements

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent advanced experience.

About the Company

Company: Rocket Lab

Headquarters: Long Beach, California, United States

Rocket Lab is a global leader in launch and space systems, known for its Electron rocket which has been providing reliable access to orbit since 2018. The company supports various space missions such as scientific exploration and Earth observation, and is developing the Neutron rocket for future payloads. With a focus on innovation, Rocket Lab has been instrumental in over 1,700 missions including high-profile projects like the James Webb Space Telescope and NASA's Psyche Mission.