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…