Senior HITL Technician

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

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.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The HITL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) team builds, runs, and maintains the simulators that put Rocket Lab's avionics and software through their paces before they fly. That means modern avionics components, test equipment, simple mechanical systems, and software, all brought together into integrated test setups that missions and projects depend on.

As Senior HITL Technician, you'll be hands on across the full HITL lifecycle: harness design, manufacture, and test, rack and simulator builds, hardware and software installation, simulator operation, and integration troubleshooting. You'll be trusted to sign off flight hardware and software and make sure no fault is passed downstream. This role has no direct reports, but you'll mentor engineers, technicians, and apprentices and set the standard for quality, attention to detail, and pace.

YOU'LL GET TO:

Own & Ship

• Fabricate, assemble, and test high quality, high reliability wire harnesses and electro-mechanical assemblies
• Design and build racks and simulators end to end, from harnessing and layout through to final integration
• Install hardware, including computers and servers, network cabling and interconnections, avionics equipment, and anything else the simulators need to function
• Carry out software installation using microcontroller and FPGA programmers and Rocket Lab internal configuration and installation tools
• Sign off flight hardware and software, validating the quality of products and tests

Solve & Fix

• Operate, upgrade, and maintain HITL simulators to keep missions and projects on schedule
• Troubleshoot system integration issues and debug hardware using multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic analysers, and automated test equipment
• Perform on-the-job root cause analysis and raise well documented quality tickets for every defect found
• Maintain accurate traceability of hardware serial numbers through Rocket Lab systems

Lead & Scale

• Bring ideas that make a real difference to team efficiency, process reliability, and waste reduction
• Take an active role in continuous improvement meetings and own the actions that come out of them
• Work with L&D as a subject matter expert to develop training modules
• Question the status quo and pick up new systems and technologies as the team evolves

Grow & Deliver

• Mentor and support engineers, technicians, and apprentices, sharing your knowledge freely
• Understand your assigned components in detail and help the Team Lead build sound plans and schedule mitigations
• Support research and development tasks as required
• Seek out support and remove blockers to meet team deadlines, and develop your own get-well plans when needed

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

Core requirements:

• Trade qualified in a relevant industry
• 5+ years of relevant industry experience
• Precision harness assembly experience, and comfortable with high precision crimping, soldering, and harness termination
• Comfortable working to exacting standards, including cleanliness for oxygen service
• A sound understanding of industry standard ESD practice
• Good eyesight and the ability to inspect wiring assemblies to a high workmanship standard
• A working understanding of tool control and FOD awareness

BONUS POINTS FOR:

• Experience using electronic debugging tools such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, and logic analysers
• Rack layout configuration and harness setup and installation
• Mechanical assembly experience
• Able to read, understand, and follow manufacturing instructions and drawings
• Experience working with ticketing systems
• Confident using computers, web-based applications, smartphones, and tablets
• Excellent written and verbal communication

EXPECTATIONS

• Ownership mentality: you do everything in your control to meet team deadlines without being asked
• An exceptional standard of accuracy and attention to detail. No fault gets passed downstream on your watch
• Follow process precisely and flag anything that doesn't look right, whether it's your work or someone else's
• Honesty and accountability. Own your mistakes and be part of the solution in a no-blame culture
• A "how can I help?" team player who anticipates needs and lifts team morale
• Work effectively in a team and autonomously, staying calm under pressure and taking initiative
• No task is beneath you. Roll up your sleeves and do what's needed for mission success
• Punctual attendance at the start of every shift, with the flexibility to work long hours when required
• Follow health and safety policies and procedures, wear correct PPE, and report near misses and incidents promptly
• Domestic and international travel may be required

WHAT TO EXPECT 

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.   

Important information:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant.  These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations. 

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.  For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.