Senior Spacecraft Ops Engineer — Automation & Flight Software

Rocket Lab Corp.; Long Beach, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA, seeks a Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer II to ensure health, safety, and optimal performance of a growing satellite fleet. You will support commissioning, orbit raising, routine ops, and potential re-entry phases for diverse missions with commercial and government customers.

You will collaborate with design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, and ground software teams to improve ground and satellite capabilities, while enabling mission success and meeting

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or similar technical field.
• 8+ years of direct experience in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command control or spacecraft operations.
• Understanding of key spacecraft subsystems including attitude determination and control, electrical power, 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, C++, or other high-level languages.
• US citizenship is required due to program requirements.
• Ability to obtain and maintain US security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Operate spacecraft using software-driven automation to enable mission execution.
• Develop and test ground software and automation scripts for operations.
• Develop and test flight software sequences and FDIR/telemetry configurations.
• Maintain continuous integration and testing of operational code.
• Participate in on-call or shift-based operations.
• Develop test methods and analyze data.
• Create interface specifications, CONOPS, and design documents.
• Support AIT teams across spacecraft tests (TVAC, propulsion, DITL).
• Perform requirements validation and verification for subsystems and missions.
• Generate and maintain mission requirements and dispositions.
• Provide program and product support to leads and managers; interface with Auckland and Long Beach teams.

Skills

Software development experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA, seeks a Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer II to ensure health, safety, and optimal performance of a growing satellite fleet. You will support commissioning, orbit raising, routine ops, and potential re-entry phases for diverse missions with commercial and government customers.

You will collaborate with design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, and ground software teams to improve ground and satellite capabilities, while enabling mission success and meeting