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 within its Space Systems team. Based at the company’s global headquarters in Long Beach, California, this high-ownership role leads the platform from early concept and prototype through qualification, responsive production, and flight. The role owns the technical roadmap and major programmatic decisions, translates warfighter needs into technical milestones, and leads the teams and decisions that keep the program on track. The position oversees multiple active programs and works closely with Chief Engineers on architecture and trade-offs involving closed-loop guidance and control, onboard autonomy, and propulsion. It builds and develops engineering and program leadership talent, owns Firm Fixed Price program financial performance, manages strategic suppliers and subcontracts, and coordinates teams across hardware, software, GNC, and mission assurance. The role is also the primary point of contact for assigned U.S. Government national security customers and partners with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives.
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 these areas: 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 system architectures.
- Experience identifying technical, schedule, or supply-chain risks and mitigating them 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 with 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.
- Systems engineering fluency, including trade studies, interface control, and requirement integrity.
- Experience using Jira, Confluence, and ERP systems to maintain program visibility.
Responsibilities
- Lead the lifecycle of highly maneuverable, time-critical mission platforms from blank-sheet concept through qualification, responsive production, and flight.
- Own the technical roadmap and grow the team’s core capabilities.
- Manage multiple active programs and make architectural decisions with Chief Engineers, including trade-offs involving closed-loop guidance and control, onboard autonomy, and propulsion.
- Engage directly in the program’s most critical problems.
- Build an engineering culture that supports smart risk-taking and strong ideas, and coach and develop future program and team leaders.
- Own the Firm Fixed Price program P&L, including forecasts, revenue and margin milestones, program and capital budgets, and Make/Buy decisions.
- Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners, protecting schedule and margin.
- Coordinate cross-functional hardware, software, GNC, and mission assurance teams, and remove roadblocks while maintaining quality and pace.
- Serve as the primary point of 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.
- 50% employee discount on the company merch store.
- Additional employee discounts.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
