Senior Program Manager II - Flatellite
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. The role is the program authority for high-volume satellite production, owning production rate, yield, unit cost, and strategic program decisions from prototype maturity through full-rate production. The successful candidate will lead satellites from initial concept through qualification, production, and flight, and own the technical roadmap for expanding team capabilities. The position oversees multiple active programs, works with Chief Engineers on architectural decisions, addresses trade-offs in design for manufacturing, takt time, line of balance, production readiness, and reliability, and tackles issues that threaten production. It also involves building and developing teams, managing suppliers and subcontracts, coordinating manufacturing, supply chain, integration, and test functions, and serving 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, mathematics, science, or another technical discipline.
- At least 8 years of aerospace program management experience.
- Demonstrated record of owning a technical program, product, or team end to end and delivering it under pressure.
- Evidence of advancing 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 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.
- Systems engineering knowledge, including 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
- Lead the lifecycle of high-volume satellite programs from initial concept through qualification, full-rate production, and flight.
- Own the technical roadmap for growing the team's core capabilities.
- Run multiple active programs simultaneously and make architectural decisions with Chief Engineers.
- Manage trade-offs involving design for manufacturing, takt time, line of balance, production-rate readiness, and reliability.
- Personally address problems that threaten production alongside the team.
- Build and develop a team culture that encourages smart risk-taking, strong ideas, and learning from intelligent mistakes.
- Coach and develop future program and team leaders.
- Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners while protecting schedule and margin.
- Coordinate manufacturing, supply chain, integration, and test teams and quickly 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
