Senior Launch Network Architect

Rocket Lab Corporation; Auckland; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab, based in Auckland, New Zealand, seeks a Principal Network Engineer to design, implement and operate the networks and firewalls underpinning Launch and Launch Operations. This senior, hands-on role reports to the Team Lead – IT Engineer and supports Electron and Neutron launch systems across multiple sites.

You'll lead upgrades, build secure, reliable networks, and collaborate with IT, engineering and operations teams to deliver mission-critical connectivity with world-class uptime.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of IT experience, with at least 4 years in a platform-focused role.
• Expert knowledge of Juniper or Cisco switching and firewall setup, configuration and management.
• Strong knowledge of WAN, SD-WAN, routing, IPSec, SSL VPNs and firewalls.
• Ability to lead projects from scoping and planning through to deployment.
• Strong documentation skills and the ability to communicate technical information clearly.
• A proactive, 'How can I help?' attitude and ownership of work to completion.

Responsibilities

• Deploy and manage reliable, scalable network infrastructure that supports Rocket Lab engineers and launch personnel.
• Implement and operate launch networks, including firewalls, HMIs, telemetry servers and remote operator connectivity.
• Provide SME guidance to ensure highly available network infrastructure for the Launch team.
• Lead upgrades and maintenance with a focus on reliability, security, and continuous improvement.
• Scope, plan and deploy launch network infrastructure and new site commissioning projects.
• Develop and enforce standards for deploying Launch infrastructure and ensure policy compliance.
• Drive automated build and maintenance processes for streamlined operations.
• Improve system reliability with High Availability and Disaster Recovery in Launch environments.
• Provide clear reporting on usage, uptime and support levels to stakeholders.
• Document environments and support processes comprehensively and maintain up-to-date records.

Skills

WAN & SD-WAN

Firewall expertise

Juniper/Cisco

Project leadership

Technical documentation

Communication

Job description

Rocket Lab, based in Auckland, New Zealand, seeks a Principal Network Engineer to design, implement and operate the networks and firewalls underpinning Launch and Launch Operations. This senior, hands-on role reports to the Team Lead – IT Engineer and supports Electron and Neutron launch systems across multiple sites.

You'll lead upgrades, build secure, reliable networks, and collaborate with IT, engineering and operations teams to deliver mission-critical connectivity with world-class uptime.