Aerospace Construction Program Director

Rocket Lab; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in the United States is seeking a Construction Project Director to lead end-to-end capital construction for aerospace manufacturing and testing facilities.

The role requires 12+ years in construction project management, leadership of multi-site projects, and deep knowledge of large capital budgets. You will drive roadmaps, budgets, risk oversight, and contractor management in a highly regulated, safety-focused environment.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in construction project management and a bachelors degree or equivalent years of work experience (16+ years of total work experience).
• 5+ years leading large-scale industrial or manufacturing construction projects.
• Proven experience delivering capital projects $20M–$200M+.
• Strong knowledge of aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Expertise in contract negotiation, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end strategy for construction and facilities development across aerospace manufacturing and test sites.
• Translate long-range operational needs into facility and infrastructure roadmaps.
• Develop multi-year capital plans and ensure alignment with corporate growth objectives.
• Provide executive-level reporting, risk assessments, and recommendations.
• Oversee all phases of construction projects, including scoping, budgeting, scheduling, permitting, design, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects ranging from high-bay manufacturing facilities to clean rooms, test stands, labs, and specialized aerospace infrastructure.
• Ensure strict adherence to aerospace-grade quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
• Own capital project budgets, forecasts, and financial controls.
• Evaluate ROI, payback, and lifecycle cost impacts for major construction investments.
• Lead contractor bidding, negotiation, and contract management.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Test Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure facility designs support production throughput, equipment installation, and future scalability.
• Partner with EHS to ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, NFPA, and aerospace-specific safety requirements.
• Coordinate with local jurisdictions, permitting agencies, and regulatory bodies.
• Select, negotiate, and manage general contractors, architects, engineers, and specialty vendors.
• Ensure contractor performance meets cost, schedule, and quality expectations.
• Lead weekly construction reviews, site walks, and executive updates.
• Identify and mitigate construction risks, schedule delays, cost overruns, and scope changes.
• Ensure all construction activities comply with aerospace industry standards, building codes, and environmental regulations.
• Champion a culture of safety across all job sites.

Skills

Construction leadership

Project management

Budgeting

Contract negotiation

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Rocket Lab in the United States is seeking a Construction Project Director to lead end-to-end capital construction for aerospace manufacturing and testing facilities.

The role requires 12+ years in construction project management, leadership of multi-site projects, and deep knowledge of large capital budgets. You will drive roadmaps, budgets, risk oversight, and contractor management in a highly regulated, safety-focused environment.