Principal Program Manager (TS/SCI)

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is hiring a Principal Program Manager for its Space Systems team, based at the company’s global headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role serves as program authority for a sensitive next-generation mission platform, owning its technical roadmap and major program decisions from initial prototype through flight qualification and responsive production. The manager will engage with warfighters to translate operational needs into technical milestones and will lead the program’s execution and capability growth. The position oversees multiple programs and cross-functional teams spanning hardware, software, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), and mission assurance. It includes technical and architectural decision-making with Chief Engineers; developing staff and future leaders; managing a firm-fixed-price program’s profit and loss, budgets, forecasts, revenue, margins, and Make/Buy decisions; and managing suppliers and subcontracts. The role is also the primary point of contact for assigned U.S. Government national security customers and works with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in physics, mathematics, science, or another technical discipline.
12 or more years of experience in the aerospace or space industry.
8 or more years of technical program management experience.
Depth in at least one of these domains: prototype-to-flight transition; EO/IR and optical payloads; production engineering; manufacturing risk reduction; or advanced sensing and communications, such as RADAR, SAR, or advanced communication systems.
Experience identifying and mitigating technical, schedule, or supply-chain risks before they affect the mission.
Active TS/SCI clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience transitioning low-volume prototypes into responsive production while maintaining mission reliability.
Deep experience with National Security Space and time-critical mission sets.
Demonstrated success negotiating, capturing, and executing large U.S. Government contracts.
Master’s degree in engineering or a related field.
Systems engineering fluency, including trade studies, interface control, and requirement integrity.
Experience using Jira, Confluence, and ERP systems.

Responsibilities

Lead mission platforms from initial concept and prototype through qualification, responsive production, and flight.
Own the program’s technical roadmap and develop the team’s core capabilities.
Manage multiple active programs and make architectural decisions with Chief Engineers.
Navigate technical trade-offs involving closed-loop guidance and control, onboard autonomy, and propulsion, and address program-threatening problems.
Build and develop engineering teams and coach future program and team leaders.
Own firm-fixed-price program profit and loss, including forecasts, revenue and margin milestones, program and capital budgets, and Make/Buy decisions.
Manage subcontracts and suppliers to protect program schedule and margin.
Coordinate teams across hardware, software, GNC, and mission assurance, and remove roadblocks.
Serve as the primary contact for assigned U.S. Government national security customers.
Partner with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives for national security mission systems.

Benefits

Company stock as part of total compensation.
Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
Medical plans, including HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with a company HSA contribution.
Dental and vision coverage.
Paid vacation and sick time.
11 paid holidays.
Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
Paid parental leave.
Disability and life insurance.
401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Subsidized EV charging.
Onsite fitness centers where available.
Discounted gym memberships.
Complimentary snacks and beverages.
50% employee discount on the company merchandise store.
Additional employee discounts.