Principal Spacecraft Operations Engineer - Secret Clearance

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 339,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grant

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Top-tier medical plans

Dental & Vision

Paid vacation and holidays

401(k) with company match

Stock merchandise discounts

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Principal Spacecraft Operations Engineer to lead mission operations for a growing fleet of satellites, supporting diverse missions for commercial and government customers.

You will own operations requirements, define automation, and coordinate with design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, and ground software teams to ensure safe, reliable, and scalable operations, with opportunities to work across NZ and USA engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field.
• 12+ years in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, or related areas.
• 5+ years leading teams of engineers through spacecraft missions or aerospace projects.
• Experience in missions operations with on-console or operator-in-the-loop roles.
• Deep understanding of ADCS, EPS, communications, C&DH, TCS, propulsion, FDIR.
• Knowledge of orbital mechanics and space environment.
• 5+ years of software development in Python, C/C++, or similar.
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as mission operations lead: set technical direction and prioritise staff work.
• Influence spacecraft and ground architecture for operability and safety.
• Own mission ops requirements and lead validation for missions.
• Define automation strategy and software-driven operations for testing.
• Design and test flight software sequences and FDIR configurations.
• Develop ground software and automation frameworks for long-duration ops.
• Maintain mission ops tooling, CI, version control, and releases.
• Create interface specs, CONOPS, contingency procedures, and docs.
• Lead validation against simulations, flatsat, HITL, SIL, and digital twins.
• Coordinate with NZ and US teams, present at reviews and gates.

Skills

Software development

Python

C/C++

Space systems know-how

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Cloud infrastructure

Job description

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets - we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space - our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions

PRINCIPAL SPACECRAFT OPERATIONS ENGINEER II- SECRET CLEARANCE

Based on site at Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA the Principal Spacecraft Operations Engineer is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and optimal performance of a growing fleet of satellites while meeting mission objectives and SLAs for both commercial and government customers. This includes supporting diverse missions such as LEO constellations, interplanetary exploration, LEO rendezvous, and SDA-related deployments.

Your expertise would be critical during commissioning, orbit raising, routine operations, and potentially re‑entry phases, ensuring the health and safety of Rocket Lab's expanding fleet. The Spacecraft Operations team works closely with related teams, such as spacecraft design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, flight dynamics and ground software development to help improve both the ground and satellite‑based capabilities overtime.

The space operations experience at Rocket Lab is unique because you will cover a multitude of roles/positions and responsibilities, with the large majority of the technical products being supplied through the vertical integration/in-house.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Serve as the program's mission operations technical lead: set the technical direction and strategy for operations, plan and prioritize the work of the mission operations staff, and act as the primary operations point of contact for program‑level design decisions and trades
• Advocate for operability across the program: influence spacecraft and ground architecture upstream so vehicles are designed to be operated safely, efficiently, and autonomously, and push for changes to program design and execution when operational needs demand it
• Own mission operations requirements and lead requirements validation and verification for spacecraft missions and system‑level capability and function
• Define the automation strategy and lead the development of robust, software‑driven methods for mission operations, testing, and data analysis to ensure efficient, repeatable, and reliable spacecraft operation
• Design, develop, and test flight software sequences and FDIR/telemetry configurations to ensure spacecraft health and fault management through software‑driven processes
• Architect, develop, and test ground software for long‑duration operations, including scripting and automation frameworks that make operations robust, hands‑off, and scalable across a growing fleet
• Establish and steward the integration, testing, and maintenance of mission operations tooling and codebases, including CI, version control, and release discipline. Ensure the on‑call or shift schedules of operations
• Author and own interface specifications, CONOPS, contingency procedures, and other operational design documents
• Lead validation of flight products and procedures against spacecraft simulation tools, including flatsat, HITL, SIL, and digital twins
• Support AIT teams across multiple spacecraft integrated tests (TVAC, propulsion stack, DITL
• Provide program and product support to team leads and program managers, and serve as a key technical interface between the NZ and USA engineering teams
• Represent mission operations in program milestone reviews, design reviews, and readiness gates, and drive continuous improvement through post‑mission lessons learned

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS A PRINCIPALSPACECRAFT OPERATIONS ENGINEER:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical engineering discipline)
• 12+ years of direct experience in any of the following: space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command control, or spacecraft operations
• 5+ years of experience leading teams of engineers through spacecraft missions or related aerospace projects
• Previous experience in roles such as Mission Lead, Mission Director, Flight Director, or Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer
• Previous experience supporting mission operations activities in an on-console or operator-in-the-loop capacity
• Thorough understanding of key spacecraft subsystems and associated components, including attitude determination and control systems (ADCS), electrical power systems (EPS), space-to-ground communications, command and data handling (C&DH), thermal control systems (TCS), spacecraft propulsion systems, and fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR)
• Understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics
• 5+ years of direct software development experience (Python/Ruby/C/C++/other high‑level languages), covering items such as spacecraft onboard flight scripts, ground scripting and automation, and data manipulation and analysis
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Master's or PhD engineering in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical engineering discipline)
• Prior experience in spacecraft operations
• Prior experience in satellite system design
• Prior experience in satellite ground systems
• Exposure to modern development practices - GIT, CI/CD, cloud infrastructure
• Proficiency with Agile issue‑tracking tools, specifically Jira, for mission task management, status tracking, and bug reporting
• Software‑in‑the‑Loop (SIL) Testing: Exposure to testing frameworks that simulate software behavior in operational environments. *
• Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) Testing: Familiarity with testing frameworks that integrate software and hardware systems.
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas

Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock‑price performance.

Join one of the world's fastest‑growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry‑leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top‑tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Total Compensation (base and equity)

$223,025 — $339,400 USD

Base Salary

$173,300 — $259,850 USD

WHAT TO EXPECT

We're on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that's not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out‑think, out‑work, and out‑pace. We pride ourselves on having each other's backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket