The end-to-end space company delivering reliable launch services, spacecraft, satellite components. Backed by Bessemer and Khosla.
About the role
As a Principal Integration & Test Engineer for Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, AZ, you will play a key role in integration, alignment, calibration, and verification of advanced EO/IR payloads that support national defense space missions. This role is hands-on and highly technical, involving optical bench setup, metrology, environmental test readiness, and performance validation. Found on 1752vc Careers, the job board for startup and VC roles.
What they're looking for
- Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field
- 12+ years of experience integration and test of complex systems
- U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
- Experience in optical system integration, test, or verification
- Hands-on experience with optical alignment, metrology, interferometry, and imaging-system characterization
- Familiarity with optical benches, cleanroom practices, contamination control, and environmental testing
More about this role
Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.
Rocket Lab’s Space Systems division builds complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios.
The Space Systems division has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. We have built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help get to space — our Space Systems division is empowering the boldest and most ambitious space missions.
Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical...
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