Principal Program Manager
About The Position
Rocket Lab Optical Systems develops space-domain and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance solutions for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, the team delivers sensing solutions for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. The Principal Program Manager, based in Tucson, Arizona, leads electro-optical/infrared space missions and ground-based sensor networks and research. The role requires experience managing programs involving electronics, software, and EO/IR sensors on space or ground systems.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, or a technical discipline.
- At least 12 years of experience managing technical projects for the U.S. Government.
- Proven ability to lead a team through program completion and project milestones.
- Hands-on expertise with active optical systems.
- Experience with space EO payloads, test plan development, astronomy, physics, electronics, software, and/or remote sensing.
- Active Secret clearance with eligibility for TS/SCI.
- U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
Nice To Haves
- Current SSBI clearance.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Self-motivation and ability to perform tasks with minimal oversight.
- Superior oral and written communication and sound problem-solving skills.
- Continuous-improvement mindset and high attention to detail and accuracy.
- Experience in a dynamic, high-visibility role.
- Management skills, including prioritizing tasks, managing resources, and delivering results within constraints.
- Internship or research experience supporting aerospace, defense, or optics-related projects.
- Exposure to MBSE concepts and tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler.
- Familiarity with environmental testing of flight hardware.
- Experience with configuration management practices and systems engineering documentation.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including formulas and data-analysis tools.
- Knowledge of astronomy, physics, imaging systems, or remote sensing.
Responsibilities
- Manage multiple contracts, overseeing cost, risk, schedule, staffing resources, and technical performance of programs or subsystems of major programs.
- Identify and mitigate program risks, develop contingency and recovery plans, resolve issues promptly, and track financial impacts.
- Solve unusually complex technical problems and provide innovative solutions.
- Lead engineering teams in planning and executing test events and resolving operational and technical issues.
- Complete tasks and meet deadlines with little direction.
- Prepare and deliver presentations communicating program status and plans.
- Communicate across disciplines, with project management, and with customers; maintain consistent communication and relationships with internal stakeholders, functional teams, and executive leadership.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with customers, partners, and stakeholders.
- Lead program and customer meetings and reviews, and technical interchange meetings; represent the organization on project development matters.
- Mentor junior technical staff and program support resources.
- Develop and track Integrated Master Schedules and manage Earned Value Management metrics as required.
- Support and, where required, influence or lead proposal and ECP efforts.
- Support travel or off-site work as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
