Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer II/Principal - Secret Clearance

Rocket Lab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical insurance (HMO/PPO)

Dental & Vision

Paid vacation

Sick leave

11 paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Employee stock purchase program

EV charging stations

Onsite gym

Food and drinks

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA, seeks a Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer II / Principal to supervise health and performance of a growing satellite fleet, supporting commercial and government missions from commissioning to routine operations.

You will lead mission operations, develop automation and flight software, and coordinate with design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, and ground software teams to improve reliability and scalability across a growing fleet.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 8+ years in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, or spacecraft operations.
• 3+ years leading teams of engineers on spacecraft missions or related projects.
• 5+ years of software development experience (Python, Ruby, C, C++, or similar).
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead mission operations direction and plan staff work.
• Advocate for operability across the program and influence design decisions.
• Own mission operations requirements and validation for missions.
• Define automation strategies for mission operations and data analysis.
• Design and test flight software sequences and ground software for reliability.
• Establish and maintain mission operations tooling and CI/release discipline.
• Interface with international teams and participate in program milestones.
• Provide program and product support to team leads and program managers.

Skills

Space mission design

Team leadership

Software development (Python/C/C++)

Security clearance

On-console operations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Cloud infrastructure

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.

Space Systems

At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, such as solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more. Our team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in‑space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. We have built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer II / Principal – Secret Clearance

Based at Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer II/Principal is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and optimal performance of a growing fleet of satellites while meeting mission objectives and SLAs for both commercial and government customers. This includes supporting diverse missions such as LEO constellations, interplanetary exploration, LEO rendezvous, and SDA‑related deployments. Your expertise will be critical during commissioning, orbit raising, routine operations, and potentially re‑entry phases, ensuring the health and safety of Rocket Lab’s expanding fleet. The Spacecraft Operations team works closely with related teams—including spacecraft design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, flight dynamics, and ground software development—to improve both the ground and satellite‑based capabilities over time.

What You’ll Get To Do

• Serve as the program's mission operations technical lead: set the technical direction and strategy for operations, plan and prioritize the work of the mission operations staff, and act as the primary operations point of contact for program‑level design decisions and trades.
• Advocate for operability across the program, influencing spacecraft and ground architecture upstream so vehicles are designed to be operated safely, efficiently, and autonomously, and push for changes to program design and execution when operational needs demand it.
• Own mission operations requirements and lead requirements validation and verification for spacecraft missions and system‑level capability and function.
• Define the automation strategy and lead the development of robust, software‑driven methods for mission operations, testing, and data analysis to ensure efficient, repeatable, and reliable spacecraft operation.
• Design, develop, and test flight software sequences and FDIR/telemetry configurations to ensure spacecraft health and fault management through software‑driven processes.
• Architect, develop, and test ground software for long‑duration operations, including scripting and automation frameworks that make operations robust, hands‑off, and scalable across a growing fleet.
• Establish and steward the integration, testing, and maintenance of mission operations tooling and codebases, including CI, version control, and release discipline. Ensure the on‑call or shift schedules of operations.
• Author and own interface specifications, CONOPS, contingency procedures, and other operational design documents.
• Lead validation of flight products and procedures against spacecraft simulation tools, including flatsat, HITL, SIL, and digital twins.
• Support AIT teams across multiple spacecraft integrated tests (TVAC, propulsion stack, DITL).
• Provide program and product support to team leads and program managers, and serve as a key technical interface between the NZ and USA engineering teams.
• Represent mission operations in program milestone reviews, design reviews, and readiness gates, and drive continuous improvement through post‑mission lessons learned.

Qualifications (Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer II)

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical discipline).
• 8+ years of direct experience in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command control, or spacecraft operations.
• 3+ years of experience leading teams of engineers through spacecraft missions or related aerospace projects.
• Previous experience in roles such as Mission Lead, Mission Director, Flight Director, or Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer.
• Previous experience supporting mission operations activities in an on‑console or operator‑in‑the‑loop capacity.
• Thorough understanding of key spacecraft subsystems and associated components, including ADCS, EPS, space‑to‑ground communications, C&DH, TCS, propulsion systems, and FDIR.
• Understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics.
• 5+ years of direct software development experience (Python, Ruby, C, C++, or other high‑level languages), covering spacecraft onboard flight scripts, ground scripting and automation, and data manipulation and analysis.
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance.

Qualifications (Principal Spacecraft Operations Engineer)

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical discipline).
• 12+ years of direct experience in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command control, or spacecraft operations.
• 3+ years of experience leading teams of engineers through spacecraft missions or related aerospace projects.
• Previous experience in roles such as Mission Lead, Mission Director, Flight Director, or Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer.
• Previous experience supporting mission operations activities in an on‑console or operator‑in‑the‑loop capacity.
• Thorough understanding of key spacecraft subsystems and associated components, including ADCS, EPS, space‑to‑ground communications, C&DH, TCS, propulsion systems, and FDIR.
• Understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics.
• 5+ years of direct software development experience (Python, Ruby, C, C++, or other high‑level languages), covering spacecraft onboard flight scripts, ground scripting and automation, and data manipulation and analysis.
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance.

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have

• Master’s or PhD in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or other technical discipline).
• Prior experience in spacecraft operations.
• Prior experience in satellite system design.
• Prior experience in satellite ground systems.
• Exposure to modern development practices—GIT, CI/CD, cloud infrastructure.
• Proficiency with Agile issue‑tracking tools, specifically Jira.
• Experience with Software‑in‑the‑Loop (SIL) Testing.
• Experience with Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) Testing.
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Benefits and Compensation

Level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Base salary is just one component of our total rewards package at Rocket Lab. 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 a discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts. Base Pay Range (CA Only): $173,000 USD – $231,000 USD.

What To Expect

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out‑think, out‑work, and out‑pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

Important Information – Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

US Office Applicants

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, or be 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 U.S. Department of Commerce. Rocket Lab also provides an accommodation resource for applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States. Contact Giulia Johnson at [e-mail].

New Zealand Office Applicants

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.