Senior Technical Program Manager, Advanced RF Systems

Rocket Lab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager II for Advanced RF Systems (TS/SCI). You will own the technical roadmap, lead multi-program teams, and drive from concept through qualification to high-rate production across NSS, civil, and commercial customers.

You’ll coordinate hardware, software, and spectrum management efforts, manage high-stakes subcontracts, and mentor the next generation of program and team leaders in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated track record of owning a technical program end to end
• 8+ years of aerospace program management experience
• Active TS/SCI clearance

Responsibilities

• Command the Lifecycle: Build and lead the team that takes RF payloads, transponders, SAR, and communications systems from a “blank sheet” concept through qualification, high-rate production, and flight, and own the technical roadmap that grows the team's core capabilities.
• Lead the Team of Teams: Run multiple active programs at once, make sound architectural calls with Chief Engineers, navigate the hardest trade-offs in phased arrays, digital signal processing, and high-rate manufacturing, and personally dive into the most program-threatening problems alongside the team.
• Build the Bench: Grow a culture where strong people take smart, healthy risks and the best idea wins, no matter who it comes from, we back bold calls and treat an intelligent miss as the cost of moving fast and coach and develop the next generation of program and team leaders.
• Forge the Supply Chain: Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners essential to the mission, protecting schedule and margin.
• Unblock Excellence: Synchronize cross-functional teams across hardware, software, and spectrum management and clear roadblocks quickly so the team keeps moving at speed and quality stays high.
• Influence the Future: Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned National Security, civil, and commercial customers, and partner with BD & Strategy on proposals and technical narratives that define the next generation of RF systems and payloads.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical roadmap

Education

Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, science, or other technical discipline

Master’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Jira

Confluence

ERP

Job description

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager II for Advanced RF Systems (TS/SCI). You will own the technical roadmap, lead multi-program teams, and drive from concept through qualification to high-rate production across NSS, civil, and commercial customers.

You’ll coordinate hardware, software, and spectrum management efforts, manage high-stakes subcontracts, and mentor the next generation of program and team leaders in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.