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

Rocket Lab Corporation•Long Beach, CA

9d•$116,800 - $160,600•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is hiring a Senior Program Manager for its Space Sensing & Domain Awareness work, based at its global headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role is the program authority for advanced optical and infrared sensing payloads, owning their technical roadmap and strategic make-or-buy decisions from early prototype through flight qualification and scalable production. The position involves understanding tracking, warning, and surveillance mission needs and turning them into concrete technical milestones. The Program Manager leads multiple active programs and cross-functional teams spanning optics, electronics, software, and the data chain. The role works with Chief Engineers on architecture and technical trade-offs, builds and develops program teams, manages suppliers and subcontracts, and serves as the primary contact for assigned U.S. Government customers. It also partners with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives for future space domain awareness programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, science, or another technical discipline.
At least 5 years of aerospace program management experience.
Demonstrated track record of owning a technical program, product, or team end to end and delivering it 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 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 scalable production while preserving mission reliability.
Deep experience in National Security Space (NSS) or large sensing and tracking constellations.
Success negotiating, capturing, and executing large U.S. Government contracts.
Master's degree in Engineering, Optics, or a related field.
Systems engineering knowledge, including trade studies, interface control, and requirement integrity.
Experience using Jira, Confluence, and ERP systems to track program health.
Multiple program cycles or 8+ years in aerospace or defense.

Responsibilities

Lead EO/IR sensing payload and optical systems programs 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.
Manage technical trade-offs involving pointing stability, jitter, sensitivity, and revisit.
Address program-threatening problems directly alongside the team.
Build a strong team culture and coach and develop future program and team leaders.
Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners, protecting schedule and margin.
Coordinate 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.

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.