Principal Program Manager (TS/SCI)
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 programmatic decisions from early prototype through flight qualification and responsive production. The position involves understanding warfighter operational needs and translating them into technical milestones. The manager will lead multiple programs and multidisciplinary teams, guide technical and architectural trade-offs, develop program and engineering leaders, and own program financial performance on a Firm Fixed Price basis. The role also manages suppliers and subcontracts, coordinates hardware, software, GNC, and mission assurance teams, and serves as the primary contact for assigned U.S. Government national security customers. The position partners with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives for future national security mission systems. The position may require prolonged sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, as well as occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, science, or another technical discipline.
- 12+ years of experience in the aerospace or space industry.
- 8+ years of technical program management experience.
- Depth in at least one of the following: prototype-to-flight transition of integrated hardware/software systems; EO/IR sensing, optical payload architectures, or focal plane arrays; production engineering, including takt time, line-of-balance, design for manufacturing, and learning-curve economics; manufacturing risk reduction; or RADAR, SAR, or advanced communication system architectures.
- Experience identifying and neutralizing 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 without sacrificing 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 and ability to peer-review technical roadmaps.
- Systems engineering fluency, including trade studies, interface control, and requirement integrity.
- Experience using Jira, Confluence, and ERP systems to maintain program visibility.
Responsibilities
- Lead the lifecycle of highly maneuverable, time-critical mission platforms from blank-sheet concept through qualification, responsive production, and flight.
- Own the technical roadmap for developing the team’s core capabilities.
- Run multiple active programs and make architectural decisions with Chief Engineers.
- Navigate technical trade-offs in closed-loop guidance and control, onboard autonomy, and propulsion, and address program-threatening problems alongside the team.
- Build an engineering culture that supports smart risk-taking and develop future program and team leaders.
- Own program profit and loss on a Firm Fixed Price basis, including forecasts, revenue and margin milestones, program and capital budgets, and Make/Buy decisions.
- Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners while protecting schedule and margin.
- Synchronize teams across hardware, software, GNC, and mission assurance, and remove roadblocks while maintaining speed and quality.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned U.S. Government national security customers.
- Partner with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives for future 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 significant 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.
- Other employee discounts.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
