Senior Laser Communications Program Lead

Rocket Lab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 134,000 - 201,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity and Stock Purchase Program

Industry-leading benefits (medical, H

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Program Manager II for Laser Communications to lead high‑impact, customer‑facing terminal programs. You will coordinate across engineering, product, and operations to deliver on commitments, manage risk, and ensure schedule adherence.

This role requires a strong background in optical/RF communications and proven program leadership in aerospace hardware, with ITAR/EAR considerations and a drive to exceed customer expectations in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or Math.
• Working understanding of free-space optical or RF communications: link budgets, pointing, acquisition, tracking, modems and coding.
• 8+ years in space, aerospace, or photonics hardware programs, with multiple full program cycles.
• Track record of leading a complex hardware program to delivery (customer, schedule, risk).
• Evidence you’ve moved hardware from prototype to qualified, rate-production delivery.
• Experience managing program cost, EAC, and changes with finance and product teams on a meaningful program.
• Deliver hardware at rate and maintain customer trust during challenging moments.
• U.S. Person status required (ITAR/EAR); ability to obtain security clearance preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Delivery: guide terminal programs from award through production at rate and on-orbit checkout.
• Lead the Team of Teams: run multiple concurrent programs with engineers on link performance and interoperability.
• Deliver at Rate: own delivery profile and mitigate risk with Operations and Product.
• Forge the Supply Chain: partner with Supply Chain on critical suppliers and accountability.
• Run the Program Lifecycle: startup, baselining, reviews, export/ITAR, and closeout across U.S. and European sites.
• Champion the Customer: be the trusted point of contact through milestones and acceptance.
• Raise the Bar: mentor teams and raise standards for customer delivery.

Skills

Engineering foundation

Optical/RF comms

Delivery leadership

Program risk management

Financial acumen

Customer delivery

Security clearance readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Physics/Math

Tools

Jira

Confluence

ERP/MRP

Job description

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Program Manager II for Laser Communications to lead high‑impact, customer‑facing terminal programs. You will coordinate across engineering, product, and operations to deliver on commitments, manage risk, and ensure schedule adherence.

This role requires a strong background in optical/RF communications and proven program leadership in aerospace hardware, with ITAR/EAR considerations and a drive to exceed customer expectations in a fast-paced