Mission Manager: Spacecraft & Payload Lead

Rocket Lab Corporation; Littleton (CO); On-site; USD 107,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Parental leave

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Mission Manager to oversee multiple customer missions from contract signing through payload integration to launch. The role requires coordinating technical, programmatic, and financial milestones across high-visibility programs.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in mission management or technical program management, plus a DoD Secret Clearance and experience with hardware integration on launch vehicles or spacecraft. Travel to sites worldwide is expected.

Qualifications

• Active DoD Secret Clearance required.
• 5+ years in mission management or technical program management.
• Hardware integration or PM experience on launch vehicles or spacecraft.
• Ability to travel to launch pads, customer sites, and overseas.
• Experience with suborbital or hypersonic payloads is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple Rocket Lab customer missions across technical, programmatic, and financial milestones.
• Oversee payload integration activities, including fit checks and launcher interfaces.
• Lead technical milestone reviews with customers (design, readiness).
• Support business development with proposal input and technical sales reviews.
• Develop and verify Launch Vehicle to Payload ICDs and maintain customer communication.

Skills

DoD security clearance

Technical program management

Hardware integration

Travel readiness

Customer-facing coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or technical discipline

Job description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Mission Manager to oversee multiple customer missions from contract signing through payload integration to launch. The role requires coordinating technical, programmatic, and financial milestones across high-visibility programs.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in mission management or technical program management, plus a DoD Secret Clearance and experience with hardware integration on launch vehicles or spacecraft. Travel to sites worldwide is expected.