Senior Flight Software Engineer II

About the role

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more - all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations. Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Within Space Systems, the Senior Flight Software Engineer II role is critical to enabling our mission portfolio. This position is based at our headquarters in Long Beach, CA, and focuses on the development of flight software for Rocket Lab's Space Systems programs within a demanding launch schedule. The successful candidate will participate in all phases of the software lifecycle, from initial requirements capture through on-orbit operations. Because Rocket Lab operates its own rockets and launch sites, software is frequently tested and operated on orbit within weeks and months, providing rapid feedback and real-world validation. The role requires close collaboration with hardware and systems engineers to ensure software functionality in the harsh realities of space, driving innovation and exploration through software.

What you'll do

You will develop application software to run within a Real Time Operating System (RTOS) and/or embedded Linux environments for space applications. This includes writing low-level code that executes under strict timing constraints and high reliability requirements. You will also develop hardware drivers to interface with Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), Star Trackers, Reaction Wheels, and other spacecraft sensors and actuators, ensuring precise control and accurate state estimation.

A significant part of the role involves developing and maintaining comprehensive unit tests that run within a Continuous Integration framework to ensure software reliability and correctness before flight. You will collaborate with hardware-in-the-loop test engineers to verify and validate combined software and hardware functionality, identifying and resolving issues early in the development cycle. The position requires close cooperation with systems engineers and embedded systems engineers in developing, documenting, and validating requirements to ensure clarity, correctness, and traceability.

You will participate in formal design reviews, such as Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR) and Critical Design Reviews (CDR), to provide technical insights and ensure design robustness. Additionally, you will assist with on-orbit and interplanetary flight operations, supporting real-time anomaly resolution and software updates as missions execute. This end-to-end involvement ensures that software performs as intended from ground testing through space operations.

Requirements

To qualify for this role, you must hold a Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related technical field. Rocket Lab seeks candidates with a minimum of five years of relevant experience in flight software development for space or embedded systems. You must demonstrate extensive experience with C or C++ programming languages for low-level software development in resource-constrained environments.

Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills for complex, integrated hardware-software systems are essential. You should be proficient with version control systems, such as Git, to manage source code in a collaborative environment. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required to work effectively with cross-functional engineering teams and to articulate technical trade-offs during design reviews. Because this role may require access to controlled programs and data, you must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance, if required for the position. There are no specified preferences or additional qualifications outlined in the source material beyond these core requirements.