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

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is seeking 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 the technical roadmap and strategic make-or-buy decisions from initial concept through flight qualification and scalable production. The position focuses on translating operational needs in tracking, warning, and surveillance missions into technical milestones and ensuring program execution. The Senior Program Manager leads multiple programs and cross-functional teams, makes architectural decisions with Chief Engineers, addresses trade-offs involving pointing stability and jitter, sensitivity, and revisit, and engages directly in critical program problems. The role also develops team members and future leaders, manages strategic suppliers and subcontracts, coordinates teams across optics, electronics, software, and the data chain, and serves as the primary customer contact for assigned U.S. Government tracking, warning, and surveillance customers. The manager also partners with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives for future space domain awareness capabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, science, or another technical discipline.
8+ years of aerospace program management experience.
Demonstrated ownership of a technical program, product, or team from start to completion 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.
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, and requirement integrity.
Experience using Jira, Confluence, and ERP tools to maintain program visibility.
Multiple program cycles or 8+ years in aerospace/defense.

Responsibilities

Lead EO/IR sensing payload and optical system development 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 and jitter, sensitivity, and revisit.
Work directly with the team to address critical program problems.
Build a culture of smart risk-taking, strong collaboration, and merit-based ideas.
Coach and develop future program and team leaders.
Manage subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners while protecting schedule and margin.
Coordinate 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.

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.