Principal Spacecraft Operations Engineer - Secret Clearance Preferred

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); Vor Ort; USD 173.000 - 260.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Medical plans

Paid vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays

Zusammenfassung

Rocket Lab Corporation is seeking a Principal Spacecraft Operations Engineer in Long Beach, CA. You will lead mission operations and ensure health and safety across a growing satellite fleet, supporting commercial and government missions from commissioning to re-entry phases.

You will work with space systems teams across design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, and ground software to improve ground and satellite capabilities, and you will shape operational concepts for high‑reliability

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field.
• 12+ years in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, or spacecraft operations.
• 5+ years leading teams of engineers on missions or aerospace projects.
• Experience as Mission Lead, Mission Director, Flight Director, or Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer.

Aufgaben

• Serve as mission operations technical lead; plan, prioritize, and act as primary operations contact for design decisions.
• Advocate operability and influence spacecraft and ground architecture for safe, efficient, autonomous operation.
• Own mission operations requirements and validate system-level capabilities.
• Define automation strategy and develop software-driven methods for operations, testing, and data analysis.
• Design, develop, and test flight software sequences and FDIR/telemetry configurations.
• Develop ground software and automation frameworks for scalable operations.
• Maintain mission operations tooling, CI, version control, and release discipline.

Kenntnisse

Python

C/C++

Leadership

Systems engineering

Ausbildung

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Jira

CI/CD

Git

Simulation tools

Jobbeschreibung

Principal Spacecraft Operations Engineer - Secret Clearance Preferred

Long Beach, CA

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

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

Your expertise would be critical during commissioning, orbit raising,routine operations, and potentially re-entry phases, ensuring the health and safety ofRocket Lab’s expanding fleet.The Spacecraft Operations team works closely with related teams, such as spacecraftdesign, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, flight dynamics and ground softwaredevelopment 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
• US citizenship is required due to program requirements

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 Secret or 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

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.

Base Pay Range (CA Only)

$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 Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [e-mail]. This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Rocket Lab Corporation’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.