Senior Program Manager II, RF Systems - TS/SCI

Rocket Lab Corporation • Long Beach, CA

23h • $140,000 - $180,000 • 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. 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

• Employees may also receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package including: 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, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Other perks include: Discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level