Senior RF Systems PM – TS/SCI, Equity Eligible

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top-tier health coverage

Company equity

Paid vacation and holidays

HSA option

Dental and vision

401(k) with match

Stock purchase program

EV charging subsidies

Onsite gym

Food and drinks

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Parental leave

Dependent care savings

Discounts

Flexible spending

3 weeks vacation

Sick leave

Equity

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager I for Advanced RF Systems (TS/SCI). You own the technical roadmap from prototype to production across RF payloads, transponders, SAR, and communications systems, guiding cross-functional teams and navigating mission-critical trade-offs.

You will lead multiple programs, mentor leaders, manage strategic suppliers, and partner with BD to craft technical narratives for national security and commercial missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in physics, math, science, or other technical discipline.
• 5+ years of program management experience.
• Track record of owning a technical program, product, or team end to end.
• Evidence you've moved hardware and software from prototype toward scalable, flight-ready production.
• Understanding of transponders, SAR, or advanced communication systems.
• Experience identifying technical, schedule, or supply-chain risk and neutralizing it.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead lifecycle from concept through qualification and high-rate production of RF payloads and communications systems.
• Manage multiple active programs, make architectural calls with Chief Engineers, and resolve critical trade-offs.
• Foster a culture of bold decision-making, coach future leaders, and protect project momentum.
• Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners.
• Synchronize cross-functional teams across hardware, software, and spectrum management to maintain pace and quality.
• Serve as primary contact for National Security, civil and commercial customers and contribute to proposals and technical narratives.

Skills

Program management

Technical program ownership

Prototype to production

Transponders/SAR

Risk identification

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in physics/math/science/technical discipline

Tools

Jira

Confluence

ERP

Job description

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager I for Advanced RF Systems (TS/SCI). You own the technical roadmap from prototype to production across RF payloads, transponders, SAR, and communications systems, guiding cross-functional teams and navigating mission-critical trade-offs.

You will lead multiple programs, mentor leaders, manage strategic suppliers, and partner with BD to craft technical narratives for national security and commercial missions.