Data Scientist I

Rocket Lab Optical Systems is hiring a Data Scientist I in Tucson, Arizona to support Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. In this onsite role, you will help model, simulate, prototype, and characterize advanced EO/IR payloads that support national defense space missions.

Working within a cross-functional technical environment, you will contribute to data collection and analysis, calibration assessment, algorithm development support, and resolution of integration issues across lab and field activities.

What you’ll do

• Guide and author data collection and analysis software
• Analyze and assess payload calibration data
• Shadow algorithm development as a subject-matter expert
• Collaborate closely with firmware development, electronics interface control, and optical teams
• Use investigative and troubleshooting skills to assess issues and develop resolutions in the lab and in the field
• Communicate effectively with project management, customers, and team members across disciplines
• Attend technical interchange meetings and represent the organization on matters related to project development
• Provide status updates on assigned tasks and program schedules
• Review documents and help resolve technical engineering and integration issues
• Manage time and resources to meet assigned deadlines
• Develop detection and calibration algorithms for optical systems across the product lifecycle
• Simulate electro-optical payload components, including radiometric behavior, detector characteristics, and optical prescriptions
• Act as a self-starter by identifying problems, taking initiative, and presenting solutions

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Math, or a related field
• Ability to obtain security clearance
• Experience in optical systems development, performance modeling, and/or data analysis
• Strong data analysis, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Working knowledge of MATLAB, python, and C/C++

Nice to have

• Master’s or PhD preferred
• Experience with EO/IR payloads, infrared focal planes, or space-based sensor systems
• Experience writing alignment procedures, test scripts, and verification plans
• Experience with automated test equipment or optical STE
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance
• Hands-on experience with optical alignment, metrology, interferometry, and imaging-system characterization
• Hands-on expertise with electro-optical systems, imaging systems, light sources, and/or military/space payloads

Tools and technologies

• MATLAB
• python
• C/C++

US office eligibility

• Rocket Lab employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (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 (ITAR).

New Zealand office eligibility

• Background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers, including nationality checks.
• You may be ineligible if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a NATO country, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.