Senior Avionics Engineer - Power Electronics

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is a full-spectrum space company that builds and launches responsive launch systems, spacecraft, payloads, and satellite components with the aim of broadening access to space. Its hardware supports a wide range of high-impact missions, including scientific discovery, Earth observation, climate-focused work, national security, and new technology demonstrations.

The company’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket each year and has placed more than 230 satellites into orbit. At the same time, Rocket Lab is advancing Neutron, a reusable medium-lift launch vehicle designed for larger constellation deployments. Through its Space Systems division, the company also develops satellites, payloads, and components used in missions for NASA, including lunar and Martian programs as well as hardware for the James Webb Space Telescope.

About Space Systems at Rocket Lab

The Space Systems organization is responsible for the full range of satellites and satellite hardware made by Rocket Lab. This includes complete spacecraft for missions to the Moon and Mars, along with subsystem-level products such as solar panels, flight software, reaction wheels, star trackers, separation systems, radios, and other critical components. Teams of engineers and technicians design, assemble, and integrate both in-house spacecraft and mission hardware for commercial, government, and defense customers.

About the Role

The Senior Power Electronics Engineer will take the lead on the design, development, and verification of high-power flight electronics, with a strong emphasis on ion propulsion power processing units and high-voltage distribution architectures. This role owns projects from concept through production, with accountability for building robust, efficient, and dependable hardware suited to space environments. The position requires deep involvement in high-voltage DC-DC conversion, precision power distribution, and custom magnetics, all while meeting demanding efficiency, thermal, and electromagnetic compatibility requirements across multiple spacecraft programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the complete development path for high-reliability, high-voltage power processing units used in ion propulsion systems, covering power conversion, high-voltage isolation, and accurate current and voltage control.
• Develop high-power DC-DC converters and power distribution electronics, selecting the right topology, managing heat effectively, and reducing EMI for propulsion-critical applications.
• Create and prototype spacecraft-level high-voltage distribution units and interface modules, ensuring strong circuit protection, arc suppression, and alignment with system safety and interface constraints.
• Carry out detailed electrical analyses such as Worst-Case Analysis (WCA), FIDES, Power Integrity (PI), thermal modeling, and high-voltage stress assessments to support mission reliability.
• Choose space-qualified high-voltage components for orbital use while accounting for radiation effects (TID/SEE), corona discharge, outgassing, and supplier lead-time exposure.
• Drive the design of advanced power electronics, including custom magnetics such as transformers and inductors, switching regulator tuning, high-voltage filtering, and efficient power distribution networks.
• Establish grounding, bonding, and EMI/EMC approaches for integrated avionics systems so that spacecraft and propulsion electronics remain electromagnetically compatible.
• Manage initial bring-up, smoke testing, and diagnostic checks on first-article high-voltage flight hardware, including precision rework and troubleshooting where needed.
• Plan and lead qualification and risk-reduction test programs for power electronics, including Thermal Vacuum (TVAC), random vibration, high-voltage breakdown, and EMI/EMC testing.
• Support and develop junior and intermediate engineers through peer review of schematics, high-voltage PCB layouts, and technical budgets such as power, mass, and efficiency.
• Work closely with teams across Propulsion, GNC, Flight Software, and Thermal to solve interface issues and ensure smooth system integration.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 7 years of experience designing high-reliability power electronics, with a strong record of delivering flight-qualified or mission-critical high-power systems.
• Strong command of high-voltage power electronics design, simulation, and layout using standard digital engineering tools.
• Experience building efficient DC-DC converters below 1kV, designing magnetics such as transformers and inductors, and applying high-voltage isolation methods, including controls for creepage and corona/arcing.
• Practical experience using advanced laboratory equipment for high-voltage hardware bring-up and characterization, such as high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, high-voltage probes, and current measurement tools.
• A solid grasp of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Test (DFT) principles for production-scale, high-reliability high-voltage electronics.

Required Tools

• Advanced proficiency in Altium Designer for eCAD work.
• Simulation tools for power electronics, such as LTspice, PLECS, PSIM, or equivalent.
• Power integrity and thermal analysis platforms such as HyperLynx and ANSYS Icepak, or similar tools.
• Requirements management and verification software such as JAMA.
• PLM and configuration management tools such as Teamcenter.
• Mechanical integration and harness coordination tools such as Siemens NX.
• Program and task tracking tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Smartsheet.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with space-specific design constraints, including radiation mitigation (TID/SEE), vacuum thermal management, and material outgassing for high-voltage applications.
• Experience with FPGA development or low-level embedded software used for hardware verification and diagnostic tooling in power systems.
• Background in ion propulsion power processing units, Hall effect thruster controllers, or gridded ion engine electronics.
• Experience running environmental qualification programs such as TVAC, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, and high-voltage breakdown tests to aerospace standards.
• Exposure to automated test equipment (ATE) development for production verification of high-voltage PCBA assemblies.
• Proven ability to mentor engineers and improve technical processes within a team or organization.
• Understanding of NewSpace constraints, including the use of COTS components in high-reliability, high-power systems.
• Knowledge of custom magnetics winding methods and supplier management for space-qualified magnetic parts.

What To Expect

Rocket Lab describes a work environment that values resilience, collaboration, speed, and practical problem-solving. The team is expected to work hard, stay focused under pressure, meet aggressive deadlines, and contribute across tasks of all sizes with a hands-on, low-ego mindset.

Important Information for Candidates Seeking to Work in U.S. Offices

Because of U.S. export control rules, including ITAR, employees in U.S. offices must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or otherwise eligible for the necessary authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce. Certain applicants may be unable to proceed if they do not meet these requirements.

Rocket Lab states that it provides equal employment opportunity and does not permit discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or other legally protected characteristics. These principles apply to all employment terms, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave, compensation, and training.

Applicants needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process for a U.S.-based role may contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com. This contact is intended only for candidates with disabilities who need help applying or interviewing, and responses may take up to two business days.

Important Information for Candidates Seeking to Work in New Zealand Offices

For security reasons, background checks will be completed before any employment offer is made. These checks include nationality verification because this role requires eligibility to access equipment and data controlled under U.S. ITAR regulations.

Under those regulations, candidates may be ineligible if they do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a NATO member country, or if they hold a disallowed dual citizenship or nationality.