Senior Program Manager II, RF Systems - TS/SCI
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. 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.
Benefits
- top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage
- 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year
- 11 paid holidays per year
- flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts
- paid parental leave
- disability insurance
- life insurance
- access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Discounted employee stock purchase program
- subsidized EV charging stations
- onsite gym
- food and drinks, and other discounts
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
