Lead Flight Software Engineer – Electron Vehicle

Rocketlab; Auckland; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab’s Electron Flight Software team in Auckland leads development for launch vehicle and spacecraft avionics software. This hands-on leadership role sets long-term direction, manages a five-person team, and prioritises reliability and efficiency while you also contribute by writing and reviewing code.

You will oversee requirements, architecture, and delivery, drive risk reduction, mentor engineers, and collaborate across teams to keep development on track and aligned with mission success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in software/engineering field.
• 5+ years of experience in software engineering.
• Leadership experience in a software team with critical deliverables.
• Strong C/C++ development skills.
• Embedded software development experience.
• Linux application development experience.
• Networked application development experience.
• Experience with Git and Jira.
• Clear written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Set long-term objectives for Electron flight software and deliver high-quality flight software on time.
• Lead software development for launch vehicle and spacecraft avionics embedded computers, ground segment communications, and avionics simulations, including hardware-in-the-loop.
• Approve software requirements, architecture designs, and backlog readiness.
• Write code and unit tests, review merge requests, and document how the team's software products operate.
• Continually reduce software-related risk to the vehicle and the business, making risk/reward trade-off calls with input from quality, senior engineering, and production.
• Run trade studies and work through complex technical problems where the standard approach won't work.
• Identify risks early and change course when needed to keep development on track.
• Lead a team of five flight software engineers and run stand‑ups, architecture meetings, and stakeholder meetings that stay focused and useful.
• Recruit and retain talent within the team.
• Keep the wider business informed on status and blockers, and work across teams to clear them.
• Put forward plans for new ways of working, new equipment, and improved processes.
• Develop your direct reports through regular 1:1s, performance reviews, goal setting, and ongoing two-way feedback.
• Create and approve training packages, deliver training on software products, and coach engineers on the job.
• Act as deputy for the Director when required, with minimal supervision.

Skills

C/C++ development

Embedded software

Linux

Networking

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Software Engineering / CS / Electrical Engineering

Tools

Git

Jira

Job description

Rocket Lab’s Electron Flight Software team in Auckland leads development for launch vehicle and spacecraft avionics software. This hands-on leadership role sets long-term direction, manages a five-person team, and prioritises reliability and efficiency while you also contribute by writing and reviewing code.

You will oversee requirements, architecture, and delivery, drive risk reduction, mentor engineers, and collaborate across teams to keep development on track and aligned with mission success.