Lead TPM for Space Sensing & Domain Awareness

Rocketlab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

HSA option

Dental & Vision

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Paid holidays

FSAs

Parental leave

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k) match

Stock Purchase Program

EV charging

Onsite gym

Food & drinks

Employee discounts

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager for Space Sensing & Domain Awareness to own the technical roadmap from concept to scalable production. You’ll oversee EO/IR payloads, guide architecture decisions with Chief Engineers, and lead a team across optics, electronics, software, and data chains.

You’ll manage cross-functional programs, engage with U.S. government customers, and influence proposals and narratives for the next generation of space-domain awareness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, science, or other technical discipline.
• 5+ years of program management experience.
• Proven track record of owning a technical program, product, or team end to end and delivering under pressure.
• Experience moving hardware and software from prototype to flight-ready production.
• Understanding EO/IR sensing, optical payloads, or focal plane arrays.
• Experience identifying and neutralizing technical, schedule, or supply-chain risk.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the team that takes EO/IR sensing payloads from concept through qualification, scalable production, and flight.
• Run multiple active programs, make architectural calls with Chief Engineers, and manage high-risk trade-offs.
• Foster a culture of bold but smart decision-making and develop future program leaders.
• Manage high-stakes subcontracts and supplier relationships as strategic partners.
• Synchronize cross-functional teams across optics, electronics, software, and data chains.

Skills

Program management

EO/IR sensing

Hardware to production

Risk management

TS/SCI clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, science, or other technical discipline

Tools

Jira

Confluence

ERP

Job description

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager for Space Sensing & Domain Awareness to own the technical roadmap from concept to scalable production. You’ll oversee EO/IR payloads, guide architecture decisions with Chief Engineers, and lead a team across optics, electronics, software, and data chains.

You’ll manage cross-functional programs, engage with U.S. government customers, and influence proposals and narratives for the next generation of space-domain awareness.