Senior Program Manager I - Flatellite

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is hiring a Senior Technical Program Manager I for its Flatellite program, based at its global headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role has program authority for high-volume satellite production and owns rate, yield, unit cost, and strategic program decisions from prototype maturity through full-rate production. The successful candidate will lead the team and technical roadmap for taking satellites from initial concept through qualification, production, and flight, while improving the team's core capabilities. The position manages multiple active programs, makes architectural and design-for-manufacturing trade-offs with Chief Engineers, and addresses production-line risks directly. It also develops program and team leaders, manages strategic suppliers and high-stakes subcontracts, coordinates manufacturing, supply chain, integration, and test teams, and serves as the primary contact for assigned commercial constellation operators. The role partners with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives for future constellation production.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in physics, math, science, or another technical discipline.
At least 5 years of aerospace program management experience.
Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of a technical program, product, or team and a record of delivering under pressure.
Evidence of moving hardware and software from prototype toward high-rate production, with quantified improvements in yield, throughput, and cost.
Understanding of takt time, line-of-balance, design-for-manufacturing, and learning-curve economics.
Experience identifying and addressing tooling, supply-chain, or yield risks before they slow production.
U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

A proven approach to transitioning low-volume prototypes into full-rate production without sacrificing mission reliability.
Deep experience scaling satellite, aerospace, or similarly complex hardware production at volume.
A record of reducing unit cost at production rate without sacrificing reliability.
Master's degree in Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
Familiarity with systems engineering, trade studies, interface control, and requirement integrity.
Experience using Jira, Confluence, and ERP/MRP systems to maintain program visibility.
Multiple program cycles or 8 or more years of experience in aerospace or defense.

Responsibilities

Lead satellite programs from initial concept through qualification, full-rate production, and flight.
Own production rate, yield, unit cost, strategic program decisions, and the technical roadmap for the team's capabilities.
Manage multiple active programs and make architectural decisions with Chief Engineers.
Navigate design-for-manufacturing, takt time, line-of-balance, and rate-readiness versus reliability trade-offs.
Work with the team to resolve problems that threaten production-line performance.
Build a culture that encourages smart risks, values strong ideas, and treats intelligent misses as part of moving quickly.
Coach and develop future program and team leaders.
Manage strategic supplier relationships and high-stakes subcontracts to protect schedule and margin.
Coordinate manufacturing, supply chain, integration, and test teams and remove roadblocks.
Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned commercial constellation operators.
Partner with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives for future constellation production.

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.