Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer I/II

Rocket Lab Corporation•Long Beach, CA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access space. The rockets and satellites we build, and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations. Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope. SPACE SYSTEMS Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team is responsible for every satellite and satellite component made by Rocket Lab: from complete satellites destined for missions to the Moon and Mars, to the individual components and subsystems that make up a satellite like solar panels, flight software, reaction wheels and star trackers, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team is made up of engineers, technicians, and designers who design, create, and put together our own satellites for missions across the commercial, government, and defense sectors, or who build and assemble satellite hardware and software that supports other satellite missions. SENIOR SPACECRAFT OPERATIONS ENGINEER I/II Based on site at Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA the Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer I/II is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and optimal performance of a growing fleet of satellites while meeting mission objectives and SLAs for both commercial and government customers. This includes supporting diverse missions such as LEO constellations, interplanetary exploration, LEO rendezvous, and SDA-related deployments. Your expertise would be critical during commissioning, orbit raising, routine operations, and potentially re-entry phases, ensuring the health and safety of Rocket Lab’s expanding fleet. The Spacecraft Operations team works closely with related teams, such as spacecraft design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, flight dynamics and ground software development to help improve both the ground and satellite-based capabilities over time. The space operations experience at Rocket Lab is unique because you will cover a multitude of roles/positions and responsibilities, with the large majority of the technical products being supplied through the vertical integration/in-house.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical engineering discipline)
5+ years of direct experience in any of the following: space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command control or spacecraft operations
Understanding of key spacecraft subsystems and their associated components, including attitude determination and control, spacecraft electrical power systems, space-ground communications, on-orbit command and data handling, and thermal control.
Understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics.
Software development experience (Python/Ruby/C/C++/other high-level languages).
U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
TS/SCI Clearance Required
Bachelor’s degree in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical engineering discipline)
8+ years of direct experience in any of the following: space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command control or spacecraft operations
Understanding of key spacecraft subsystems and their associated components, including attitude determination and control, spacecraft electrical power systems, space-ground communications, on-orbit command and data handling, and thermal control.
Understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics.
Software development experience (Python/Ruby/C/C++/other high-level languages).
U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
TS/SCI Clearance Required

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD engineering in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical engineering discipline)
Prior experience in spacecraft operations
Prior experience in satellite system design
Prior experience in satellite ground systems
Exposure to modern development practices – GIT, CI/CD, cloud infrastructure
Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) Testing: Exposure to testing frameworks that simulate software behavior in operational environments. ·
Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Testing: Familiarity with testing frameworks that integrate software and hardware systems.

Responsibilities

Leverage automation as a key enabler to operate spacecraft, focusing on software-driven solutions for efficient and reliable mission execution.
Design, develop and test ground software for long term space operations: ground scripting for robust and automated ops
Design, develop and test flight software sequences and FDIR/telemetry configuration to ensure spacecraft health and fault management through software-driven processes.
Maintain the continuous integration and testing of our operational code
Ensure the on-call or shifts of operations
Develop test methods and data analysis
Develop interface specifications, CONOPS, and other design documents
Run validation against spacecraft simulation tools: flatsat, HITL, etc.
Support AIT teams across multiple spacecraft integrated tests (TVAC, propulsion stack, DITL, …)
Perform requirements validation and verification for subsystems and spacecraft missions
Generate and maintain requirements for spacecraft Missions including the creation and disposition
Provide program and product support to team leads and program managers and be a key technical interface between the Auckland, NZ and Long Beach, USA engineering teams

Benefits

Employees may also receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package including: top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Other perks include: Discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.

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