Senior Ground Systems Engineer II, Instrumentation & Controls

Rocket Lab USA

Full-time - Senior

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

The Senior Ground Systems Engineer II, Instrumentation and Controls at Rocket Lab is responsible for the development, automation, testing, and commissioning of fluid and gas systems at the Launch Complex. This role involves supporting the test operations team and managing software, PLC, networks, instrumentation, and controls to ensure the successful operation of launch systems.

Responsibilities

• Design control systems for complex launch range systems.
• Support certification of systems including producing documentation operator manuals, maintenance procedures, test procedures, and work instructions.
• Support technicians remotely or in person during installation, commissioning, testing, and troubleshooting activities.
• Become a subject matter expert in one or more of the necessary disciplines dealing with instrumentation, control systems, HMI, PLCs, software, and networks.
• Perform test operations activities.
• Post-test data analysis.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering or other technical discipline
• 8+ years of experience designing instrumentation and controls and related infrastructure for liquid launch vehicles
• Hands-on experience with data acquisition, control, and automation systems
• Experience with object Oriented PLC programming.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience implementing functional safety (IEC 61508 & IEC 61511)
• Experience with NI LabVIEW
• Development with tools including: C/C++, Python, TeamCity, EPlan, Beckhoff PLC Programming, NI cRio controller programming, Perforce Version Control System, Gitlab/Git Version Control System
• Experience with complex industrial systems for flow of fluids, especially cryogenics and high pressures.