Laser Communications Programs Lead — Global Delivery

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 153,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Purchase

Company stock

Comprehensive benefits

Paid time off

11 paid holidays

Job summary

Rocket Lab Space Systems in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Program Manager II for Laser Communications to own the customer outcome from award through on-orbit checkout. You will drive terminal programs with production, engineering, and product teams, ensuring schedule, cost, and performance targets are met across US and Europe.

The role requires a proven history delivering hardware at rate, strong customer leadership, and the ability to navigate export controls and ITAR responsibilities while

Qualifications

• 8+ years in space, aerospace, or photonics hardware programs with multiple full cycles.
• Proven track record delivering complex hardware programs to customers under pressure.
• Experience managing program cost, EAC, and contract changes with finance and product teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead terminal programs from award through qualification, production at rate, delivery, and on-orbit checkout.
• Run multiple concurrent customer programs and coordinate with Chief Engineers on performance and interoperability.
• Own each program’s delivery profile and address risks with Operations and Product teams.
• Partner with Supply Chain to manage critical suppliers as strategic partners.
• Own startup, baselining, milestones, and export/ITAR obligations across US and Europe.
• Be the trusted customer contact through milestone reviews, acceptance, and pricing discussions.
• Mentor team members and raise the standard of customer service.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Stakeholder management

Communications

Aerospace industry knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or Math

Tools

Jira

Confluence

ERP/MRP

Job description

Rocket Lab Space Systems in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Program Manager II for Laser Communications to own the customer outcome from award through on-orbit checkout. You will drive terminal programs with production, engineering, and product teams, ensuring schedule, cost, and performance targets are met across US and Europe.

The role requires a proven history delivering hardware at rate, strong customer leadership, and the ability to navigate export controls and ITAR responsibilities while