Senior Manager, DevOps Engineering

Rocketlab; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocketlab is seeking a Senior Manager, DevOps Engineering based in Chantilly, VA. The role involves leading a team focused on developing and deploying applications for advanced space payloads, with direct collaboration on mission objectives.

Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, significant experience in AWS Cloud solutions, and active security clearance. This position emphasizes innovative engineering practices within a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of software engineering or devops management experience.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance and Counterintelligence Polygraph are required.
• 10+ years of experience in architecting AWS cloud solutions with EC2 and S3.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of engineers across business functions.
• Drive best practices for AWS Cloud based architecture.
• Collaborate with project leaders to meet mission objectives.

Skills

AWS Cloud architecture

Software engineering experience

DevOps management

Scripting

Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)

Linux system administration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering

Tools

Bitbucket

Jenkins

Terraform

Ansible

Job description

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium‑lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

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.

SENIOR MANAGER, DEVOPS ENGINEERING

Rocket Lab’s Optical Systems division solves mission‑critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space‑based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro‑optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.

As a Senior Manager, DevOps Engineering based at our Optical Systems site in Chantilly, VA, you will have the privilege of supporting of Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency's (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) by managing a team of software development operations engineers that deploys applications for advanced space payloads.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO

• Lead a team of engineers across business level functions – enterprise tools, finance tools, engineering development process, software development integration and deployment.
• Drive best practices for AWS Cloud based architecture and development and production environments.
• Collaborate with project leaders and team members to meet mission objectives.
• Work directly with Security and IT for policy assurance.
• Develop and support pipelines that include automation and configurations for containers, data management, and release/deployment solutions for programs.
• Automate software deployments into varied and complex environments using virtual machines, container technologies, Kubernetes, Cloud environments, and bare metal servers.
• Support engagements related to assessing, refactoring and identifying opportunities for existing applications to leverage modern application architectures (e.g. containers).
• Lead Agile sprints and associated activities.
• Support onsite work, as well as travel or off‑site work, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or an equivalent technical discipline.
• 1-3 years of software engineering or devops management experience.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance and Counterintelligence Polygraph.
• 10+ years of experience in architecting AWS cloud solutions with EC2, ELB, RDS, Route53, CloudWatch, or S3.
• Experience with DevOps tools and pipelines such as Bitbucket, Jenkins, SonarQube, or Artifactory.
• Ability to design, enable, deliver scalable and automated IaC tools such as Ansible and Terraform.
• Experience working with containerization technologies Kubernetes or Docker.
• Experience with cloud network resources such as VPC, URL, DNS, ACLs, security, and routing tables.
• Background in scripting or coding with Java, Python, Terraform, or Bash.
• Experience with cross‑compilation for embedded systems.
• Proficiency in Linux system administration.
• CompTIA Security+ certification (or in pursuit of).
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

• Master’s degree in computer science, engineering, or an equivalent discipline.
• Experience with on‑premises to cloud migrations or IT transformations.
• Experience in database administration with MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL.
• Experience in AWS ElastiCache for Redis.
• Expertise in the Git version control system command line.
• Familiarity with Information Security frameworks including CIS, NIST, or RFC2196.
• Familiarity with Software Systems Security including ATO, CtF, or RMF.
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional.
• Excellent oral, written, and verbal communication skills.

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.

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.

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.