Senior Ground Software Engineer I - TS/SCI

Rocketlab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top tier medical HMO, PPO

100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan

Paid vacation and sick leave

Flexible spending accounts

Discounted employee stock purchase program

Onsite gym and snacks

Job summary

Rocketlab is seeking a Senior Ground Software Engineer I for our Long Beach, CA site. In this role, you will develop innovative ground software for spacecraft operations, ensuring top performance for our Space Systems missions.

Your qualifications should include a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, over five years of software development experience, and an active TS/SCI clearance. Join us to shape the future of space exploration while enjoying a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in software development.
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evolve web-based software architecture for spacecraft operations.
• Work with software developers and systems engineers for requirements.
• Deploy and configure Rocket Lab Ground Data System.

Skills

Python

Cloud engineering

Software architecture

Full-stack development

Version control (Git)

Database management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or relevant field

Tools

FastAPI

Kubernetes

Jira

Job description

Senior Ground Software Engineer I - TS/SCI

As a Senior Ground Software Engineer I - TS/SCI based at Rocket Lab’s site in Long Beach, CA, you will be responsible for developing cutting-edge spacecraft ground software for our various Space Systems missions, and for providing ground system development and support for internal and external customers. You will support the Space Systems organization, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

What You’ll Get to Do

• Develop and evolve web-based software architecture for spacecraft operations
• Work closely with flight software developers, operations personnel, and systems engineers to understand requirements and functional needs
• Deploy and configure the Rocket Lab Ground Data System
• Establish monitoring and alerting to detect system degradation and outages
• Identify ground systems issues and provide technical insight for resolution

You’ll Bring These Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline
• 5+ years of relevant work experience developing software
• 5+ years of relevant work experience developing in Python
• 2-5 years of experience in cloud engineering
• Experience in designing, deploying and managing scalable cloud solutions
• Experience architecting web-based software applications
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

These Qualifications Would Be Nice to Have

• Full-stack software development experience, including:
  Backend - Python and/or Golang
  Frontend - TypeScript and/or JavaScript (Angular or React)
  Database - InfluxDB, PostgreSQL, or equivalent
• Experience with Python web experience (FastAPI or equivalent)
• Experience with micro-service architectures
• Experience leading complete system development efforts with a team
• Ability to write clear, well-tested, and well-documented software
• Experience supporting satellite, spacecraft, constellation, or launch vehicle mission operations
• Familiarity with database design and implementation
• Experience using Git or other version control systems
• Experience with SQL
• Experience with ticketing systems like Jira, etc.
• Experience with Kubernetes orchestration
• Experience with OAuth authentication flows
• Experience in full-stack and/or web development (NodeJS, Angular, TypeScript, or equivalent)
• Experience in the aerospace industry; Experience in CCSDS recommended standards, including Space Packet Protocol and COP-1
• CompTIA Security+ (Highly recommended for foundational security knowledge)
• Experience in implementing disaster recovery plans and backup solutions in the cloud
• Ability to optimize cloud costs and manage budgets effectively

Salary & Benefits

Base salary is just one component of our total rewards package at Rocket Lab. Employees may also receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package including: top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Other perks include: Discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.

Base Pay Range (CA Only): $130,000 - $175,000 USD

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.

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.

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. For more information on these Regulations, ...

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, 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.

For candidates seeking to work in New Zealand offices only: 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.