Avionics Intern - Neutron Avionics Hardware

About the role

Rocket Lab is developing the Neutron, a medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle. The Avionics team plays a crucial role in the design and testing of avionics systems, including hardware and software components essential for the vehicle's operation. As an intern, you will assist in creating electronic assemblies, ground support equipment, and automation tools while gaining hands-on experience in avionics design and testing. You will own the creation and management of design libraries within Altium Designer, ensuring data integrity and accessibility for the team. You will engage in circuit design, verification, and characterization tasks for avionics hardware, translating requirements into functional electronic systems. You will aid in the production release of electrical bills of materials (BOMs) and designs, verifying accuracy and compliance with engineering standards. You will participate in the development of prototype designs specifically for research and development purposes, supporting early vehicle concepts. You will assist in creating tools and processes for automated testing and reporting of avionics components to improve team efficiency. You will support test campaigns for both in-house and commercial avionics components, ensuring test objectives are met. You will help with the build and commissioning of automated test equipment used in the verification of hardware. You will collaborate with engineers across various departments and contribute ideas during team meetings to foster a cross-functional design environment.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Execute the creation and management of hierarchical design libraries in Altium Designer to organize complex avionics systems.
• Perform circuit design, verification, and characterization of analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits relevant to launch vehicle systems.
• Generate and verify electrical bills of materials (BOMs) to ensure component accuracy and readiness for production assembly.
• Develop prototype designs for research and development initiatives, focusing on feasibility and performance validation.
• Construct and implement automated testing tools and reporting processes to increase the reliability and speed of component verification.
• Provide support for comprehensive test campaigns covering both internally developed and commercially sourced avionics components.
• Assist in the assembly, integration, and commissioning of automated test equipment used in laboratory and field environments.
• Liaise with multidisciplinary engineering teams and present concepts during collaborative team meetings to refine design approaches.
• Investigate and document findings related to electrical performance and compliance during testing and validation phases.
• Adapt design methodologies and procedures to align with evolving project requirements and team best practices.

Requirements

• You are currently pursuing or have recently completed a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related technical field.
• You possess up to 1 year of verified experience in electronics design, demonstrating foundational competency in circuit principles.
• You have up to 1 year of experience in testing and troubleshooting electronic systems, showing an ability to diagnose issues.
• You have hands-on experience in designing and implementing printed circuit boards (PCBs) for analog, digital, or mixed-signal circuits from concept to production.
• You have a solid understanding of electronic principles, including power electronics and communication protocols such as RS-422, SPI, Ethernet, and CAN bus.
• You understand signal integrity and grounding concepts to ensure reliable operation of electronic assemblies.
• You are authorized to work in New Zealand without sponsorship, as this is an unfettered internship opportunity.
• You can commit to the location in Auckland, New Zealand, where the role is based and operates.
• You demonstrate the ability to follow engineering standards and safety procedures in a hardware development environment.
• You show intellectual curiosity and a strong desire to learn within a fast-paced aerospace development organization.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with automated testing equipment and processes to accelerate test development cycles.
• Direct experience with Altium Designer or similar electronic design automation (EDA) software for PCB design.

Practical notes

This role is based in Auckland, New Zealand, and is an internship-level engagement. The position does not include visa sponsorship, and candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country without sponsorship. Travel requirements are not specified, and candidates should be prepared to commute to the Rocket Lab facility in Auckland. Please ensure your application is submitted before the published deadline to be considered for the opportunity.