Mission Program Lead — Space Payload & Launch

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 196,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grant

Employee stock purchase program

Comprehensive medical plans

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and holidays

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA seeks a Mission Manager based in North America to oversee customer missions from contract through payload integration to launch, coordinating with engineering and operations.

This role requires 5+ years of mission management or technical program management experience, hardware integration work, and travel to launch sites and overseas. Candidates must be able to obtain TS/SCI clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or technical discipline; Mechanical, Electrical or Aerospace degree preferred.
• 5+ years of mission management/technical program management experience.
• Hardware integration or PM experience on launch vehicles or spacecraft.
• Ability to travel to launch pads, customer sites, and overseas.
• Must be willing and able to obtain TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple customer missions across technical, programmatic, and financial milestones.
• Oversee payload integration activities, including fit checks and launcher integration.
• Lead technical milestone reviews with customers (e.g., design or readiness reviews).
• Support business development with proposal input, lead generation, and technical reviews.
• Develop and verify Launch Vehicle to Payload ICD and maintain customer communications.

Skills

Mission management

Technical program management

Hardware integration

Travel readiness

TS/SCI clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or technical discipline

Job description

Rocket Lab USA seeks a Mission Manager based in North America to oversee customer missions from contract through payload integration to launch, coordinating with engineering and operations.

This role requires 5+ years of mission management or technical program management experience, hardware integration work, and travel to launch sites and overseas. Candidates must be able to obtain TS/SCI clearance.