Job brief: Principal Algorithm Engineer (EO/IR Image Analysis)

What JoRoute checked · Checked by JoRoute

• Listed on Rocket Lab's own job board. JoRoute does not take listings from job ads or recruiters.
• First seen by JoRoute 2026-11-04 (3 days ago); last confirmed on the board 2026-11-07.
• The apply link opens job-boards.greenhouse.io, the address Rocket Lab's board gives for this job.
• No other listing with this title and place on this board in the last 90 days.
• No layoff notices (WARN) under this name in the state files JoRoute reads.

What the listing says · Employer's own words, not checked

• Pay: $198,900 to $318,200 a year
• Job type: Not stated
• Where: Chantilly, VA · Geost Wetmore
• Posted: 2026-09-16

What the job asks · Employer's own words, not checked

Level: Lead / staff. The title says "Principal".

Must have

• Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Rocket Lab Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scala…
• Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of experience, master's degree with 8+ years of experience, or Ph.D.
• with 5+ years of experience in physics, optical sciences, computer science, mathematics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical discipline with dem…
• S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.
• TS/SCI security clearance

Main duties

• Develop, optimize, and validate complex EO/IR image-processing chains and support their deployment into real-time implementations on space-based sensor paylo…
• Work with software and firmware teams to transition complex image-processing algorithms into high-performance, real-time implementations.
• Support and enhance existing operational programs, including maintaining and improving deployed algorithms, troubleshooting fielded systems, and ensuring ong…
• Analyze large and complex EO/IR datasets to extract analytics and assess algorithm performance.
• Support travel or off-site work, as needed.

Lines copied from the posting, not rewritten. "Preferred" or "nice to have" items are not listed as must-haves.

How it compares · Compared by JoRoute from listings

• Typical listed pay for engineer jobs in Virginia: $118k a year (80 listings, 26 employers). This listing is 119% higher.
• Across Rocket Lab's 452 open listings, 24% of those with a posting date were first posted more than 60 days ago. How Rocket Lab hires

What nobody outside the employer knows · Not known

• Whether the role is already filled or on hold: employers often leave listings up.
• How many people applied, and who reads the applications.
• Where in the published range an offer would land.

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