Senior Ground Software Engineer I/II

Rocket Lab Corporation•Long Beach, CA

10h•$135,000 - $190,000•Onsite

About The Position

As a Senior Ground Software Engineer I/II based out of Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, you will serve as a technical authority for spacecraft ground software across our Space Systems missions. You will help define and evolve the end-to-end architecture of ground systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, and mission success for both internal teams and external customers. This role is highly visible, with deliverables that support internal leadership, the board of directors, and investors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline
5+ years of relevant work experience in professional software development (for I level)
8+ years of relevant work experience in professional software development (for II level)
Proven track record architecting web-based software systems at scale
Strong systems-level thinking, with ability to balance technical trade-offs across performance, security, and maintainability
U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements
Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one

Nice To Haves

Active TS clearance
Full-stack development experience, including: Backend – Python, Golang, and/or Rust; Frontend – Typescript and Angular; Database – InfluxDB, PostgreSQL, or equivalent
Experience with end-to-end testing frameworks like Playwright
Aerospace background supporting satellite, spacecraft, constellation, or launch vehicle ground/mission operations
Experience designing with Python web frameworks (FastAPI or equivalent)
Deep knowledge of microservice architectures and distributed systems
Demonstrated leadership in end-to-end system design and delivery with engineering teams
Ability to produce clear, well-structured, and well-documented software designs
Familiarity with database architecture, schema design, and optimization
Expertise in Git-based workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and Kubernetes orchestration
Understanding of modern authentication/authorization frameworks (OAuth, etc.)
Knowledge of CCSDS standards, including Space Packet Protocol, COP-1, and CFD

Responsibilities

Own major parts of architecture and evolve Rocket Lab’s web-based ground software platforms for spacecraft operations.
Partner with flight software developers, mission operations personnel, and systems engineers to translate mission needs into scalable ground system designs.
Deploy, configure, and optimize the Rocket Lab Ground Data System for diverse mission profiles.
Establish robust monitoring, alerting, and reliability frameworks to proactively detect and mitigate issues.
Provide technical direction and architectural guidance to ensure mission resilience, system integration, and long-term maintainability.
Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on ground software strategy, risk areas, and emerging technologies.