Senior Space Systems TPM - Lead High-Volume Satellites

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity/Stock options

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager I to own high-volume satellite production from prototype to flight. You will lead multi-program efforts, optimize cost and schedule, and partner with Chief Engineers to drive manufacturability and reliability.

You will build and mentor teams, manage key suppliers, and coordinate across manufacturing, supply chain, and test to keep programs on track. Equity and comprehensive benefits are part of total compensation.

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 end-to-end under pressure.
• Moved hardware and software from prototype toward high-rate production with quantified yields and cost gains.
• Understanding takt time, line-of-balance, design-for-manufacturing, and learning-curve economics.
• Experience identifying tooling, supply-chain, or yield risk and neutralizing it.
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Command the Lifecycle: lead the team from concept to flight for high-volume satellite production.
• Lead multiple programs, make architectural calls with Chief Engineers, manage trade-offs for manufacturability, takt time, and rate-readiness.
• Build the bench: nurture talent, foster bold decisions, and coach future leaders in a fast-moving environment.
• Forge the supply chain: manage subcontractors and suppliers as strategic partners to protect schedule and margin.
• Unblock excellence: synchronize cross-functional teams to maintain speed and quality.
• Influence the future: engage with constellation operators and support proposals and technical narratives.

Skills

Program management

End-to-end ownership

Hardware/software production

Takt time/line-of-balance

Risk management

Security clearance readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical field

Tools

Jira

Confluence

ERP/MRP

Job description

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager I to own high-volume satellite production from prototype to flight. You will lead multi-program efforts, optimize cost and schedule, and partner with Chief Engineers to drive manufacturability and reliability.

You will build and mentor teams, manage key suppliers, and coordinate across manufacturing, supply chain, and test to keep programs on track. Equity and comprehensive benefits are part of total compensation.