Senior Program Manager I - Flatellite
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 is the program authority for high-volume satellite production, owning rate, yield, unit cost, and strategic program decisions from prototype maturity through full-rate production. The manager will build and lead the team that takes satellites from concept through qualification, production, and flight, and will own the technical roadmap for expanding the team's capabilities. The position leads multiple programs and works with Chief Engineers on architectural decisions and trade-offs involving design for manufacturing, takt time, line of balance, rate readiness, and reliability. It also develops future program leaders, manages key suppliers and 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 yield, throughput, and cost gains.
- Understanding of takt time, line of balance, design for manufacturing, and learning-curve economics.
- Experience identifying and mitigating 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 analogous complex hardware production at volume.
- A repeatable 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 keep program health visible.
- Multiple program cycles or 8+ years in aerospace or defense.
Responsibilities
- Build and lead a team that takes high-volume satellites from concept through qualification, full-rate production, and flight.
- Own the technical roadmap for growing the team's core capabilities.
- Run multiple active programs and make architectural decisions with Chief Engineers.
- Navigate trade-offs involving design for manufacturing, takt time, line of balance, rate readiness, and reliability.
- Work directly with the team to resolve problems that threaten production lines.
- Develop a culture that supports smart risk-taking, strong performance, and coaching future program and team leaders.
- Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners while protecting schedule and margin.
- Coordinate teams across manufacturing, supply chain, integration, and test, and remove roadblocks.
- Serve as the primary 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
