Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock-based compensation

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer I/II to ensure health, safety, and optimal performance of a growing satellite fleet while meeting mission objectives for commercial and government customers.

You will design and operate ground and flight software, develop CI/CD workflows, support AIT and flight dynamics teams, and provide critical interfaces between Auckland and Long Beach engineering groups.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering.
• 5+ years of direct experience in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command control or spacecraft operations.
• Knowledge of attitude determination and control, power systems, space-ground communications, on-orbit command and data handling, and thermal control.
• Understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics.
• Software development experience in Python, Ruby, C, or similar.
• Ability to obtain and maintain US security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Operate spacecraft and ensure mission objectives via automated ground and flight software.
• Develop and test ground software for long-term space operations.
• Develop flight software sequences and fault management via software.
• Maintain CI/CD and testing for operational code.
• Support on-call shifts and mission readiness across multiple programs.
• Collaborate with design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, and ground software teams.
• Coordinate interfaces with Auckland and Long Beach engineering teams.
• Validate requirements for subsystems and missions.
• Create and manage spacecraft mission requirements.

Skills

Spacecraft operations

Software development

Security clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Python

C/C++

Job description

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer I/II to ensure health, safety, and optimal performance of a growing satellite fleet while meeting mission objectives for commercial and government customers.

You will design and operate ground and flight software, develop CI/CD workflows, support AIT and flight dynamics teams, and provide critical interfaces between Auckland and Long Beach engineering groups.