Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer: Automation & Flight Ops

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

Job summary

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

You’ll collaborate with design, flight software, propulsion, GNC, and ground software teams to improve ground and satellite capabilities. The role involves commissioning, orbit raising, routine ops, and potential re-entry phases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical engineering discipline).
• 5+ years of direct experience in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command control or spacecraft operations.
• Understanding of key spacecraft subsystems and their components (attitude determination and control, power systems, space-ground communications, on-orbit command and data handling, thermal control).
• Understanding of space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics.
• Software development experience (Python, Ruby, C, C++, or other high-level languages).
• Ability to obtain and maintain US Security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Leverage automation to operate spacecraft with software-driven solutions for efficient mission execution.
• Design, develop and test ground software for long-term space operations and scripting.
• Develop and test flight software sequences and telemetry configurations for fault management.
• Maintain CI/CD and testing of operational code.
• Manage on-call rotations and shift responsibilities for operations.
• Develop test methods and data analysis.
• Create interface specifications, CONOPS, and other design documents.
• Run validation against spacecraft simulation tools and HITL environments.
• Support AIT teams across spacecraft tests (TVAC, propulsion, DITL).
• Perform requirements validation and verification for subsystems and missions.
• Generate and maintain mission requirements and disposition.

Skills

Software development (Python, C/C++,/‑

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

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

You’ll collaborate with design, flight software, propulsion, GNC, and ground software teams to improve ground and satellite capabilities. The role involves commissioning, orbit raising, routine ops, and potential re-entry phases.