Spacecraft Ops Engineer II — Automation & Flight Software

Segment (Twilio); Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland seeks an Operations Engineer II to own spacecraft operations across a growing fleet—from LEO to deep space missions. You’ll design how they’re operated, shaping automation, software, and mission success from concept to re-entry, collaborating with propulsion, flight software, GNC, and mission design engineers.

You will validate with simulations, build ground and flight software, create robust telemetry/FDIR configurations, and support spacecraft through integration,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, systems, software engineering or another engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, or spacecraft operations.
• Background in mission design and satellite subsystems, ground systems, or spacecraft operations/command.
• Familiarity with Linux systems and software development experience, such as Python, C++, or other high‑level languages.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft systems (ADCS, power, comms, C&DH, thermal).
• Solid grasp of orbital mechanics, space environment, and dynamics.
• Proven ability to thrive in fast‑paced, multi‑priority environments.
• Postgraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering (nice to have).
• Experience with modern dev tools (Git, CI/CD, cloud).
• Hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HITL) testing experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Command and operate spacecraft with automation at the core
• Develop and test ground and flight software for long‑term missions
• Build robust operational scripts and telemetry/FDIR configurations
• Lead validation using simulation tools (HITL, flatsat)
• Support spacecraft through integration, testing, launch, and on‑orbit life
• Drive continuous improvement across systems, processes, and performance

Skills

Linux

Python

C++

Orbital mechanics

Systems thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace, systems, software engineering or other engineering degree

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Cloud

Job description

Rocket Lab in Auckland seeks an Operations Engineer II to own spacecraft operations across a growing fleet—from LEO to deep space missions. You’ll design how they’re operated, shaping automation, software, and mission success from concept to re-entry, collaborating with propulsion, flight software, GNC, and mission design engineers.

You will validate with simulations, build ground and flight software, create robust telemetry/FDIR configurations, and support spacecraft through integration,