Senior Satellite Programs Lead - High-Volume Production

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 153,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EV charging subsidy

Onsite fitness centers

Employee merch discount

Job summary

Rocket Lab Corporation, based in Long Beach, CA, seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager II to own rate, yield, unit cost and strategic program decisions from prototype maturity through full-rate production. You’ll lead satellites at scale, collaborate with Chief Engineers, and drive DFM decisions to keep lines moving.

You will build a culture of bold problem-solving, manage supplier partnerships, and oversee complex programs across manufacturing, supply chain, and test to ensure mission-ready

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, science, or technical discipline.
• 8+ years of aerospace program management experience.
• Proven track record of owning a technical program end-to-end.
• Evidence you've moved hardware and software from prototype toward high-rate production with quantified gains.
• Understanding takt time, line-of-balance, design-for-manufacturing, and learning-curve economics.
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team to take satellites from concept through qualification and full-rate production.
• Coordinate multiple programs, make architectural calls with Chief Engineers, manage trade-offs for manufacturability.
• Foster a high-performing culture and coach leaders across programs.
• Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners.
• Synchronize cross-functional teams to remove roadblocks and maintain speed and quality.
• Interface with constellation operators and support proposals and narratives.

Skills

Security clearance

Takt time

Line-of-balance

Design-for-manufacturing

Learning-curve economics

Tooling risk

Education

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

Tools

Jira

Confluence

ERP/MRP

Job description

Rocket Lab Corporation, based in Long Beach, CA, seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager II to own rate, yield, unit cost and strategic program decisions from prototype maturity through full-rate production. You’ll lead satellites at scale, collaborate with Chief Engineers, and drive DFM decisions to keep lines moving.

You will build a culture of bold problem-solving, manage supplier partnerships, and oversee complex programs across manufacturing, supply chain, and test to ensure mission-ready