Senior Spacecraft Ops Engineer I — Automation & Flight

Rocket Lab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock purchase program

Medical, dental, vision plans

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer I to oversee a growing fleet of satellites from our Long Beach headquarters. You will ensure health, safety, and optimal performance while meeting mission objectives for commercial and government customers across LEO and interplanetary contexts.

You will collaborate with spacecraft design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, and ground software teams to advance ground and satellite capabilities, update procedures, and support

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 5+ years in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command/control, or operations.
• Understanding of attitude determination and control, power systems, space-ground comms, O&C handling, and thermal control.
• Software development experience in Python/C/C++ or similar high‑level languages.

Responsibilities

• Operate a growing satellite fleet, ensuring health, safety and mission objectives.
• Design, develop and test ground software for long-term space operations.
• Coordinate with AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, and ground software teams.
• Maintain CI/CD processes and automated testing for operational code.
• Provide technical interface between Auckland, NZ and Long Beach teams.

Skills

Space mission design

Satellite subsystems

Ground systems

Spacecraft operations

Python

C/C++

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Master’s or PhD in engineering (nice to have)

Tools

Software development

Job description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer I to oversee a growing fleet of satellites from our Long Beach headquarters. You will ensure health, safety, and optimal performance while meeting mission objectives for commercial and government customers across LEO and interplanetary contexts.

You will collaborate with spacecraft design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, and ground software teams to advance ground and satellite capabilities, update procedures, and support