Senior Program Manager I - Space Sensing & Domain Awareness (TS/SCI)

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Program Manager for its Space Sensing & Domain Awareness work, based at the company’s global headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role is the program authority for advanced optical and infrared sensing payloads, with ownership of the technical roadmap and strategic make-or-buy decisions from early prototypes through flight qualification and scalable production. The manager will translate operational needs in tracking, warning, and surveillance into technical milestones and lead programs through delivery and flight.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, science, or another technical discipline.
At least 5 years of aerospace program management experience.
Demonstrated ownership of a technical program, product, or team end to end and delivery under pressure.
Evidence of moving hardware and software from prototype toward scalable, flight-ready production.
Understanding of EO/IR sensing, optical payloads, or focal plane arrays.
Experience identifying and addressing technical, schedule, or supply-chain risks before they affect the mission.
Active TS/SCI clearance.

Nice To Haves

Proven experience transitioning low-volume prototypes into scalable production while maintaining mission reliability.
Deep experience in National Security Space (NSS) or large sensing and tracking constellations.
Demonstrated success negotiating, capturing, and executing large U.S. Government contracts.
Master’s degree in Engineering, Optics, or a related field.
Familiarity with systems engineering, trade studies, interface control, requirement integrity, Jira, Confluence, and ERP tools.
Multiple program cycles or 8+ years in aerospace or defense.

Responsibilities

Build and lead the team developing EO/IR sensing payloads and optical systems from concept through qualification, scalable production, and flight.
Own the technical roadmap and grow the team’s core capabilities.
Run multiple active programs and make architectural decisions with Chief Engineers, including trade-offs involving pointing stability and jitter, sensitivity, and revisit.
Personally engage with major program-threatening problems and work alongside the team to resolve them.
Build a culture of smart risk-taking, support bold decisions, and coach and develop future program and team leaders.
Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners while protecting schedule and margin.
Synchronize cross-functional teams across optics, electronics, software, and the data chain, and remove roadblocks.
Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned U.S. Government tracking, warning, and surveillance customers.
Partner with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives for future space domain awareness capabilities.

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 merchandise store.
Other employee discounts.