Senior Software Engineer I

Rocketlab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Top-tier medical HMO, PPO

Paid vacation and sick leave

401(k) with company match

Onsite gym

Subsidized EV charging

Discounted employee stock purchase program

Job summary

Rocket Lab, located in Long Beach, CA, is looking for a Senior Software Engineer I to enhance the data infrastructure that supports operations. You will design and maintain core data platforms, collaborating across teams to build scalable solutions from data pipelines to APIs.

Ideal candidates will have 5+ years in software engineering and expertise in Python and backend architecture. Rocket Lab offers a robust benefits package and a base salary range of $132,000 – $160,000 USD.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of professional experience in software engineering or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with data analysis libraries/tools such as Pandas and Numpy is preferred.
• Experience with SQL databases.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and deploy tools for operational data access.
• Collaborate with teams to understand data requirements.
• Develop apps and services that scale with business needs.
• Build automation tools for data efficiency.
• Own services end-to-end from architecture to production support.

Skills

Python development

Backend architecture

CI/CD

Containerization

Git version control

Kubernetes

REST APIs design

Jira or Redmine

Education

Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering

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.

Senior Software Engineer I

At Rocket Lab, operational data drives everything from production acceptance to mission success. The Data Engineering team builds the foundational infrastructure, platforms, and tools that make this possible, providing long‑term storage, data management, discovery, and access for data across all verticals. Our platforms enable data processing and automation at scale, while our applications and services provide the visualization and reporting capabilities that engineers rely on throughout the product lifecycle.

We're seeking a Senior Software Engineer to help us build and scale the data infrastructure that powers Rocket Lab's operations.

Based onsite at Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA, you'll design, build, and maintain core data platforms and services that enable engineers across the company to access and work with operational data. You'll collaborate with teams across development, testing, production, and mission operations to build robust, scalable solutions—from data pipelines and storage systems to APIs and processing platforms. Your work will directly impact our ability to validate hardware, execute missions, and improve performance across all Rocket Lab verticals.

What you'll get to do:

• Design, build, and deploy tools and services that power operational data access across Rocket Lab
• Collaborate with engineering teams across multiple verticals and time zones to understand data requirements and deliver scalable infrastructure solutions
• Develop and maintain apps, services, and platforms that can scale with the business’ needs.
• Build automation and tools that enable engineers to discover, access, and work with operational data efficiently
• Own services end-to-end—from architecture and development through deployment and production support

You’ll bring these qualifications:

• A degree or diploma in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience
• At least 5 years of professional experience in software engineering or a related discipline
• Expertise in Python development and a deep understanding of backend architecture
• Experience deploying services at scale, and familiarity with CI/CD and containerization
• Strong Git skills for version control and collaboration
• Experience with Kubernetes or similar orchestration tools for managing containerized applications
• Hands‑on experience designing and developing REST APIs
• Familiarity with issue tracking tools like Jira or Redmine

These qualifications would be nice to have:

• Proficiency with common data analysis libraries/tools such as Pandas and Numpy, and building ETL pipelines
• Experience in data visualization, data science and numerical analysis techniques
• Familiarity with agile development practices
• Database knowledge (SQL)
• Experience with web and user interface development

Benefits

Base salary is just one component of our total rewards package. Employees may also receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package including top‑tier medical HMO, PPO, a 100% company‑sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Other perks include discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.

Base Pay Range (CA Only): $132,000 – $160,000 USD

Important information

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 (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 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.