RF Systems Program Manager, Advanced Tech (TS/SCI)

Rocket Lab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Purchase Program (15%)

Comprehensive medical plans

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and holidays

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA, seeks a Senior Program Manager I - Advanced RF Systems to own the technical roadmap from prototype to high-rate production. You will lead RF payloads, transponders, SAR, and communications programs, coordinating with Chief Engineers and cross-functional teams to meet demanding milestones.

You will drive risk management, supplier relationships, and customer communications for national security, civil, and commercial missions, with a strong emphasis on scheduling and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, science, or other technical discipline.
• 5+ years of program management experience
• A demonstrated track record of owning a technical program, product, or team end to end and carrying it across the finish line under real pressure — we hire on what you've shipped, not years logged
• Evidence you've moved real hardware and software from prototype toward scalable, flight-ready production
• Understanding of the nuances of transponders, SAR, or advanced communication systems
• Experience identifying technical, schedule, or supply-chain risk and neutralizing it before it impacts the mission
• Active TS/SCI clearance

Responsibilities

• Command the Lifecycle: Build and lead the team that takes RF payloads, transponders, SAR, and communications systems from a 'blank sheet' concept through qualification, high-rate production, and flight, and own the technical roadmap that grows the team's core capabilities.
• Lead the Team of Teams: Run multiple active programs at once, make sound architectural calls with Chief Engineers, navigate trade-offs in phased arrays, digital signal processing, and high-rate manufacturing, and dive into the most program-threatening problems.
• Build the Bench: Grow a culture where strong people take smart, healthy risks and the best idea wins, back bold calls and coach the next generation of leaders.
• Forge the Supply Chain: Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners essential to the mission, protecting schedule and margin.
• Unblock Excellence: Synchronize cross-functional teams across hardware, software, and spectrum management and clear roadblocks quickly so the team keeps moving.
• Influence the Future: Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned National Security, civil, and commercial customers, and partner with BD & Strategy on proposals and technical narratives.

Skills

Program management

Owns technical programs

Hardware & software lifecycle

RF systems understanding

Risk identification

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

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

Master’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Jira

Confluence

ERP

Job description

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA, seeks a Senior Program Manager I - Advanced RF Systems to own the technical roadmap from prototype to high-rate production. You will lead RF payloads, transponders, SAR, and communications programs, coordinating with Chief Engineers and cross-functional teams to meet demanding milestones.

You will drive risk management, supplier relationships, and customer communications for national security, civil, and commercial missions, with a strong emphasis on scheduling and