Senior Program Manager II, RF Systems - TS/SCI Pipeline

Rocket Lab Corporation•Long Beach, CA

6h•$140,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

Based at Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, we are looking for a Senior Program Manager II, RF Systems for a future opening, you are the ultimate program authority for our next-generation RF Systems and Payloads. This is not a role for a spectator; you are the Mission Owner. You are responsible for the technical roadmap from the first "blank sheet" prototype and strategic "Make/Buy" decisions through the gauntlet of flight qualification and into high-rate production. Success here demands a radical mission-first mindset. You will not just read requirements; you will immerse yourself in the operational realities of National Security, Civil, and Commercial pioneers to translate their hardest problems into concrete technical milestones. You are the bridge between world-class RF engineering and the tactical edge, ensuring our technology doesn't just work, it wins.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or Math
8+ years of experience in managing technical projects for aerospace/defense tech industries
Proven ability to lead a team to the completion of program and project milestones
Proven track record of transitioning integrated hardware and software products from low volume prototypes to scalable, flight ready production
Understanding of the nuances of transponders, SAR or advanced communication systems
Experience identifying technical, schedule or supply chain risks and neutralize them before they impact the mission
Active TS/SCI clearance

Nice To Haves

Production Velocity: You have a proven "playbook" for transitioning exquisite, low-volume prototypes into scalable, high-rate manufacturing environments without sacrificing mission reliability.
Domain Authority: Deep experience navigating the high-stakes requirements of National Security Space (NSS) or Commercial the complex architectures of massive commercial telecommunications constellations.
Systems Fluency: You speak the language of Systems Engineering. You can navigate complex trade studies, manage interface controls, and maintain requirement integrity while keeping the team moving at speed.
Advanced Technical Credibility: A Master’s degree in Engineering or a related field that allows you to peer-review technical roadmaps and bridge the gap between theory and flight hardware.
Modern Toolchain Mastery: You leverage Jira, Confluence, and ERP systems as high-fidelity sensors to track program health and automate transparency.

Responsibilities

Command the Lifecycle: Drive the technical roadmap for advanced payloads from a "blank sheet" concept through flight qualification and high-rate production.
Bridge the Gap: Translate complex tactical needs from Customers into high-velocity engineering sprints. You will speak the customer’s language, mission success, not just margin.
Unblock Excellence: Synchronize cross-functional teams across hardware, software, and spectrum management. Your job is to remove every obstacle in their path to ensure scalable, high-throughput connectivity reaches the user on time.
Lead the Team of Teams: Partner with Chief Engineers to navigate the brutal trade-offs of Phased Arrays, Digital Signal Processing, and Production.
Forge the Supply Chain: Manage high-stakes subcontracts and vendors not as "line items," but as strategic partners essential to our mission's heartbeat.
Influence the Future: Partner with BD & Strategy for complex proposals and technical narratives that define the next generation of RF Systems and Payloads.