Senior Program Manager, Space Sensing & Optics (TS/SCI)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grant and stock purchase

Top-tier medical plans

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick time

401(k) with company match

EV charging subsidy

onsite fitness centers

Employee discounts

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Program Manager for Space Sensing & Domain Awareness (TS/SCI). You own the technical roadmap from concept to scalable production for EO/IR sensing payloads and optical systems, coordinating cross-functional teams and managing high-ownership programs.

You’ll lead architecture trade-offs, build the bench of leaders, manage supplier partnerships, and liaison with U.S. Government customers, with equity and comprehensive benefits included.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in physics, math, science, or other technical discipline.
• 8+ years of aerospace 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.
• Evidence you've moved real hardware and software from prototype toward scalable, flight-ready production.
• Understanding of the nuances of EO/IR sensing, optical payloads, or focal plane arrays.
• Experience identifying technical, schedule, or supply-chain risk and neutralizing it before it impacts the mission.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the team that takes EO/IR sensing payloads and optical systems from concept through qualification, scalable production, and flight.
• Run multiple active programs, make architectural calls with Chief Engineers, manage trade-offs in pointing stability and jitter, and address program-threatening problems.
• Grow a culture that encourages bold, well-considered risks and develops the next generation of program leaders.
• Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners to protect schedule and margin.
• Synchronize cross-functional teams to keep speed and quality high.

Skills

Technical leadership

EO/IR sensing

Risk management

Cross-functional teamwork

Problem solving

Education

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

Tools

Jira

Confluence

ERP

Job description

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Program Manager for Space Sensing & Domain Awareness (TS/SCI). You own the technical roadmap from concept to scalable production for EO/IR sensing payloads and optical systems, coordinating cross-functional teams and managing high-ownership programs.

You’ll lead architecture trade-offs, build the bench of leaders, manage supplier partnerships, and liaison with U.S. Government customers, with equity and comprehensive benefits included.