Senior Program Manager II - Flatellite

Rocket Lab Corporation•Long Beach, CA

11d•$134,300 - $201,350•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is hiring a Senior Technical Program Manager II for its Flatellite program, based at its global headquarters in Long Beach, California. This 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 position leads programs from early concept through qualification, production, and flight, while developing the technical roadmap and core capabilities needed to scale satellite production.

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 beginning to completion 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 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, requirement integrity, Jira, Confluence, and ERP/MRP systems.
Multiple program cycles or 8+ years in aerospace or defense.

Responsibilities

Build and lead the team taking high-volume satellites from concept through qualification, full-rate production, and flight, and own the technical roadmap for the team's core capabilities.
Run multiple active programs and make architectural decisions with Chief Engineers.
Manage trade-offs involving design for manufacturing, takt time, line of balance, rate readiness, and reliability.
Personally help resolve critical problems threatening production lines.
Build a culture that supports smart risk-taking, strong ideas, and development of future program and team leaders.
Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners to protect schedule and margin.
Coordinate teams across manufacturing, supply chain, integration, and test, and remove roadblocks while maintaining speed and quality.
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.