Principal Software Engineer
Rocket Lab · Tucson, AZ
About this role
**ABOUT ROCKET LAB** Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, and expanding humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. **SPACE SYSTEMS** Rocket Lab’s Space Systems division builds complete spacecraft and precision payloads—plus the components and subsystems that help them thrive in space, including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios. The Space Systems division has enabled more than 1,700 missions across interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security and defense initiatives. We’ve built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. **PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER** Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance challenges for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. As a Principal Software Engineer for Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, AZ, you will design flight software in support of spacecraft for Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. **WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:** - Play a key role supporting the development of payload flight software for Space Systems programs. - Focus on deployment of novel algorithms into austere environments on Size/Weight/Power constrained sensor systems. - Lead cross-functional teams to define technical requirements and deliver integrated solutions. - Provide technical leadership across software design and development—from requirements generation through implementation, testing, and deployment. - Define and influence software architecture, design patterns, interfaces, and technical standards to ensure scalable, maintainable, and extensible solutions.
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