Senior Program Manager II(TS/SCI)
About The Position
Rocket Lab is hiring a Senior Program Manager II to serve as program authority for a sensitive next-generation mission platform. Based at the company’s global headquarters in Long Beach, California, this high-ownership role leads the platform from initial concept and prototype through flight qualification, responsive production, and flight. The program manager owns the technical roadmap and major program decisions, while translating national security customers’ operational needs into technical milestones. The role leads multiple active programs and cross-functional teams spanning hardware, software, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), and mission assurance. It includes architectural and technical trade-off decisions with Chief Engineers, developing program and engineering leaders, and resolving program-threatening challenges. The position also owns firm-fixed-price program financial performance, budgets, forecasts, supplier and subcontractor relationships, and customer engagement. The program manager partners with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives for future national security mission systems.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, science, or another technical discipline.
- At least 8 years of experience in the aerospace or space industry.
- At least 5 years of technical program management experience.
- Depth in at least one of the following: prototype-to-flight transition; EO/IR and optical payloads; production engineering; manufacturing risk reduction; or advanced sensing and communications such as RADAR, SAR, or advanced communication architectures.
- Experience identifying and mitigating 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 while maintaining mission reliability.
- Deep experience in 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, with ability to peer-review technical roadmaps.
- Systems engineering fluency, including trade studies, interface control, and requirements integrity, and experience using Jira, Confluence, and ERP tools.
Responsibilities
- Lead mission platforms from initial concept through qualification, responsive production, and flight, and own the technical roadmap for capability growth.
- Run multiple active programs and make architectural and technical trade-off decisions with Chief Engineers, including in closed-loop guidance and control, onboard autonomy, and propulsion.
- Address program-threatening problems directly alongside the team.
- Build an engineering culture that supports smart risk-taking and strong ideas, and coach and develop future program and team leaders.
- Own firm-fixed-price program profit and loss, 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 hardware, software, GNC, and mission assurance teams and remove roadblocks while maintaining quality and pace.
- Serve as primary 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 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.
- Employee discount on the company merchandise store and other employee discounts.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
