Senior Technical Program Manager I Space Sensing & Domain Awareness (TSSCI)

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets spacecraft and critical subsystems that keep the world connected protected expand humanitys reach to the Moon Mars and beyond. We move fast build real hardware for meaningful missions and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab were not just launching rockets - were building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft and precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space including solar panels flight software star trackers optical systems separation systems radios and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1700 missions ranging from interplanetary exploration and in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft payloads and components for missions to the Moon and Mars working with partners including NASA the Space Development Agency and the U.S. Space Force. Whether its a single high-performance spacecraft constellation or vertically integrated components that help missions get to space our world-class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions

SENIOR TECHNICAL PROGRAM MANAGER SPACE SENSING & DOMAIN AWARENRESS (TS/SCI)

Based at Rocket Labs global headquarters in Long Beach CA you are the program authority for our advanced optical and infrared sensing payloads. You own the technical roadmap and strategic Make/Buy decisions from the first blank sheet prototype through flight qualification and into scalable production. This is a high-ownership role: youll immerse yourself in the operational realities of the tracking warning and surveillance mission to turn their hardest problems into concrete technical milestones and youll be the person the program runs on.

WHAT YOULL GET TO DO:

• Command the Lifecycle: Build and lead the team that takes EO/IR sensing payloads and optical systems from a blank sheet concept through qualification scalable production and flight and own the technical roadmap that grows the teams core capabilities.
• Lead the Team of Teams: Run multiple active programs at once make sound architectural calls with Chief Engineers navigate the hardest trade-offs in pointing stability and jitter sensitivity and revisit and personally dive into the most program-threatening problems alongside the team.
• Build the Bench: Grow a culture where strong people take smart healthy risks and the best idea wins no matter who it comes from we back bold calls and treat an intelligent miss as the cost of moving fast and coach and develop the next generation of program and team leaders.
• Forge the Supply Chain: Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners essential to the mission protecting schedule and margin.
• Unblock Excellence: Synchronize cross-functional teams across optics electronics software and the data chain and clear roadblocks quickly so the team keeps moving at speed and quality stays high.
• Influence the Future: Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned U.S. Government tracking warning and surveillance customers and partner with BD & Strategy on proposals and technical narratives that define the next generation of space domain awareness.

YOULL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in physics math science or other technical discipline
• 5 years of program management experience
• A demonstrated track record of owning a technical program product or team end to end and carrying it across the finish line under real pressure we hire on what youve shipped not years logged
• Evidence youve moved real hardware and software from prototype toward scalable flight-ready production
• Understanding of the nuances of EO/IR sensing optical payloads or focal plane arrays
• Experience identifying technical schedule or supply-chain risk and neutralizing it before it impacts the mission
• Active TS/SCI clearance

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Production Velocity: A proven playbook for transitioning low-volume prototypes into scalable production without sacrificing mission reliability.
• Domain Authority: Deep experience navigating National Security Space (NSS) or large sensing and tracking constellations.
• Capture & Customer: Demonstrated success negotiating capturing and executing large U.S. Government contracts.
• Advanced Technical Credibility: A Masters degree in Engineering Optics or a related field that lets you peer-review sensing roadmaps.
• Systems & Toolchain Fluency: You speak Systems Engineering trade studies interface control requirement integrity and use Jira Confluence and ERP to keep program health visible at speed.
• Depth of Reps: Multiple program cycles or 8 years in aerospace/defense sharpen the edge but we weight the hardest thing youve shipped over the count.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting standing walking computer work and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise dust and fumes in production areas.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Were on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth but thats not an easy task. It takes hard work determination relentless innovation teamwork grit and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think out-work and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each others backs checking our egos at the door and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure work to tight deadlines and our focus is always on how we can deliver rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

Important information:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder) or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia Japan New Zealand Switzerland the European Union or a country that is part of NATO or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations click here ITAR Regulations.