Lead Space EO/IR Program Manager

Rocket Lab; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Tucson, AZ seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager II to lead EO/IR space missions and ground‑based sensor networks. You will manage complex programs across electronics, software, and optics with direct liaison to customers and leadership.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in technical project leadership for US Government programs, active Secret clearance, and hands‑on knowledge of active optical systems and EO payloads.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, or technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in managing technical projects for the US Government.
• Proven ability to lead a team to the completion of program and project milestones.
• Hands-on expertise with active optical systems.
• Experience with space EO payloads, test plan development, astronomy, physics, electronics, software, and/or remote sensing.
• Active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility.
• U.S citizenship is required, due to program requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple contracts, ensuring cost, risk, schedule, staffing resources, and technical performance of company programs or subsystems of major programs, addressing issues and risks.
• Identify and mitigate potential risks to programs, develop contingency plans and recovery plans, and track financial impacts.
• Lead teams in planning and executing tests and resolving technical issues.
• Prepare and present program status updates to management and customers.
• Maintain strong stakeholder relationships across disciplines and with leadership.
• Develop and monitor Integrated Master Schedules and EVM metrics.
• Support proposals and engineering change proposals as needed.
• Travel or off-site work as required.

Skills

Program management

US Government projects

EO/IR domain knowledge

Leadership

Communication

Risk management

Scheduling (IMS / MS Project)

Earned Value Management (EVM)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, or technical discipline

Tools

Cameo Systems Modeler

Job description

Rocket Lab in Tucson, AZ seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager II to lead EO/IR space missions and ground‑based sensor networks. You will manage complex programs across electronics, software, and optics with direct liaison to customers and leadership.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in technical project leadership for US Government programs, active Secret clearance, and hands‑on knowledge of active optical systems and EO payloads.