Business Operations Manager

Rocket Lab; Littleton (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Business Operations Manager in Littleton, CO to partner with Senior Leadership and drive critical initiatives within Space Systems Software and the Denver site.

You will design and execute strategic process improvements, manage KPIs, and lead cross-functional teams to increase efficiency, profitability, and automation, including daily AI usage to optimize operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, technology, engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience working in technology and/or business.
• 2+ years’ experience in a leadership role.
• Experience in a software, technology, or engineering business.
• Experience in AI use for business or technology.
• Understanding of agile methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Work in a fast-paced space software organization using agile principals.
• Make a lasting impact to daily operations, ensuring staff can operate effectively.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop strategic plans that align with company objectives.
• Collaborate with senior leaders using KPIs to drive strategy and execution excellence.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to manage financial performance.
• Design and implement organization-level processes related to software technology, IT, business, staffing, hiring, project management, contracts, facilities, security, etc.
• Generate creative and scalable solutions to high impact problems.
• Construct and deliver communications at the organization level.
• Maintain strong collaborative relationships with shared services and other business units.
• Implement reporting and autonomy across all business needs.
• Work with AI daily to drive operational excellence

Skills

Leadership

AI in business

Strategic planning

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Excel

Job description

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 humanity’s 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, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, 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 it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER

Based out of Rocket Lab's office in Littleton, CO, the Business Operations Manager will work directly with Senior Leadership to manage and drive closure on key business, operations, staff, and technology initiatives within Space Systems Software and the Denver site location. This position requires a strategic thinker and creative problem solver with strong leadership skills, organizational skills, technical skills, and a persistent desire to make lasting progress. The successful candidate must demonstrate emotional intelligence to operate with confidence in difficult situations and be a role model for dedication to the company mission. Passion for personal and organizational efficiency is a must along with high standard of work product. With some guidance, this person will identify areas of greatest impact to the business, design and test creative solutions, and take ownership to implement them to completion.

What You'll Get To Do

• Work in a fast-paced space software organization using agile principals.
• Make a lasting impact to daily operations, ensuring staff can operate effectively.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop strategic plans that align with company objectives.
• Collaborate with senior leaders using KPIs to drive strategy and execution excellence.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to manage financial performance.
• Design and implement organization-level process related to software technology, IT, business, staffing, hiring, project management, contracts, facilities, security, etc.
• Generate creative and scalable solutions to high impact problems.
• Construct and deliver communications at the organization level
• Maintain strong collaborative relationships with shared services and other business units.
• Implement reporting and autonomy across all business needs.
• Work with AI daily to drive operational excellence

You’ll Bring These Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, technology, engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience working in technology and/or business
• 2+ years’ experience in a leadership role
• Experience in a software, technology, or engineering business
• Experience in AI use for business or technology
• Understanding of agile methodologies

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have

• Advanced degree in business, accounting, finance, technology, engineering, or related field
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, or similar
• Experience with Excel, including pivot tables
• Experience with aerospace or similar engineering field
• Experience with staff management and compensation
• Experience with P&L management
• Experience with technology integration
• Experience with IT project management
• Experience with AI tool development

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.

Base Pay Range (CO Only): $90,000 USD - $140,000 USD

What To Expect

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s 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 other’s 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 [e-mail] 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.