Software Engineer - Neutron Flight Safety Systems

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

Neutron is Rocket Lab's new, medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle currently under development. The Neutron Flight Safety Systems team develops Neutron's on-board Flight Safety System, responsible for actively monitoring flight progress and terminating flight if safety criteria are not satisfied.

Based in Auckland, NZ, the Software Engineer will develop and maintain safety-critical software on Neutron's autonomous Flight Termination System (FTS). The FTS interfaces with navigation systems, monitors and projects vehicle state, and activates termination systems if necessary. Alongside flight code, you'll build the services, tools and interfaces that support development, testing, simulation and operations across the programme.

This is a mid-level role within a small, focused team. You'll be working to established development plans and coding standards, with the senior engineers around you reviewing your work and helping you build the certification and safety-critical experience that very few engineers anywhere get access to.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Develop flight code for Neutron's Flight Termination System in accordance with documented software development plans and coding standards.
• Write unit tests for flight safety systems software, and develop support code for build, deployment, unit testing, system testing, simulation, data analysis and operations.
• Contribute to software requirements, architecture, design and algorithms, and document the assumptions and dependencies that go with them.
• Develop and maintain traceability between software requirements, design, implementation and verification activities.
• Document interfaces between flight safety systems software and its underlying hardware and interfaced equipment.
• Participate in internal and external reviews of software and supporting artifacts, and prepare technical reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in formal and informal testing, analysis and reporting.
• Contribute to identifying, documenting and mitigating flight safety system risks, and support system safety assessment activities.
• Support test automation, and support integration of the flight safety system into integrated test, launch vehicle and launch operations.
• Support operation of the flight safety system during integrated system tests and flight operations.
• Read, comprehend and apply relevant regulatory standards, and work alongside internal safety, reliability, quality and licensing teams.

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's or Master's in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or demonstrated equivalent level of knowledge.
• 3+ years' software development experience.
• Proficiency in embedded systems development with C++.
• Proficiency in Python for test and simulation support.
• Exposure to safety-critical software systems and/or software development in a regulated environment (for example medical devices, avionics, rail signalling, automotive functional safety, industrial safety systems, nuclear or defence).
• Experience with deployment and CI tooling.
• Proficiency in Git and working with issue trackers.
• An eye for detail and a genuine appetite for engineering rigour, documentation and evidence - in this role, "it compiles and runs" isn't the bar.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical decisions clearly to engineers and non-engineers alike.
• The ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Experience with space launch vehicle flight safety systems, e.g. RCC-319.
• Experience working to a recognised safety or software assurance standard, e.g. DO-178, IEC 62304, ISO 26262, IEC 61508, EN 50128.
• Experience with requirements-driven software design and requirements traceability.
• Experience with Linux development environments.
• Experience with build tools such as CMake or Bazel.
• Experience with real-time operating systems or bare-metal development.
• Experience with MISRA or similar coding standards, and static analysis tooling.
• Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop testing and working hands-on with flight hardware.
• Experience with serial and network protocols such as CAN, RS485/422/232, Ethernet, SpaceWire.
• Exposure to liaising with regulators, certification bodies, or independent verification and validation organisations.
• Knowledge of spacecraft, launch vehicles, or similarly complex autonomous systems.
• Experience with test procedure or data review, quality reporting, and working in Jira.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

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.

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.