HITL Engineer I
On-siteAuckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Job Summary
Design, maintain, and operate hardware in the loop (HITL) systems for Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, supporting production floor operations to launch sites. Develop automation tools to streamline HITL system operations and verify functionality of avionic components through rigorous testing and data analysis. Operate launch vehicle simulation platforms for Day of Launch missions while troubleshooting root causes of anomalies and communicating results with internal teams and vendors. Make accurate technical documentation via system diagrams, schematics, and test reports, and work hands-on with test and flight space hardware using equipment like oscilloscopes and logic analyzers. Contribute to HITL standardization processes and improve automation within the New Zealand HITL team.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechatronics, electronics, computer science, aerospace engineering, or related field
- 1+ years of engineering experience with hardware or software development
- Practical experience with Python development for backend applications
- A good theoretical and/or practical understanding of electronic systems
- Exposure to designing and implementing test systems for electronics
- An understanding of sensors, signal conditioning, and data acquisition electronics
- Eligibility to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) via citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a NATO country, or eligible dual citizenship
Desired Qualifications
- Master's or PhD in mechatronics, electronics, computer science, aerospace engineering, or related fields
- Prior experience working on a HITL test, Avionics test, or Software test team
- Ability to understand and create technical documentation via system diagrams, schematics, ICDs, procedures, test/anomaly reports
- Prior experience participating to Design and Acceptance reviews
- Strong troubleshooting skills and an aptitude for technical guidance and mentoring of junior engineers
- Ability to work under pressure and adhere to tight deadlines
- Have the mindset of actively 'make and break' to find flaws and issues and report them
- Experience with harness manufacturing, electrical connectors, crimping, and soldering
- Familiarity with Ethernet, RS485/422/232, CAN, LVDS, SpaceWire protocols
- Strong communication skills
- Experience with computer networking: switching, routing and subnetting
- Experience reading engineering drawings
- Experience with PLCs, relays, and power systems
- Familiarity with Python, C++, Linux, CI/CD, Git, NX and SolidWorks
- Knowledge of spacecraft systems or similar highly complex and autonomous systems
- Experience with general design, documentation, and presentation in Microsoft Suite (Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Experience with quality reporting and management, work instruction peer review, test procedure or data review, and time recording in Jira
- Ability to be self-motivated
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.