Senior Program Manager II Laser Communications

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets spacecraft and critical subsystems that keep the world connected protected expand humanitys reach to the Moon Mars and beyond. We move fast build real hardware for meaningful missions and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab were not just launching rockets were 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 like solar panels flight software star trackers optical systems separation systems radios laser communication terminals and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1700 missions ranging from interplanetary exploration in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has 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. Whether its a single high-performance spacecraft constellation or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER II - LASER COMMUNICATIONS

Laser communication is the backbone of the constellations of today and tomorrow and demand for it is growing fast. We are scaling industry-leading optical communication terminals to meet it: high-performing affordable and available at the volume commercial and government constellation operators need. Based at Rocket Labs global headquarters in Long Beach CA you are the customers champion and the delivery lead for our optical communication terminal programs. You own the customer outcome: the day-to-day relationship delivery commitments and schedule at rate milestone and acceptance reviews risk and program health. You build on a proven standard terminal product and partner closely with our Product team on configuration pricing and new customer needs. Youll work alongside the teams that build the spacecraft the components and the rockets so the people you need to solve a problem are down the hall not under another contract. This is a high-impact customer-facing role: you connect the customer our engineering teams the production line and the business across two continents and youre the person our customers count on.

WHAT YOULL GET TO DO:

• Lead Delivery: Lead terminal programs from award through qualification production at rate delivery and on-orbit checkout across current-generation production and next-generation variants. Hold each program to its plan and deliver on schedule technical performance and every customer commitment.
• Lead the Team of Teams: Run multiple concurrent customer programs work closely with Chief Engineers on link performance data rate SWaP environmental qualification and optical terminal interoperability and dive in personally on the problems that matter most to delivery.
• Deliver at Rate: Own each programs delivery profile and protect it. Spot yield supplier and test-capacity risk early and drive it to closure with Operations and the Product team.
• Forge the Supply Chain: Partner with Supply Chain to manage critical suppliers as strategic partners building the relationships and accountability that keep every customer delivery on schedule.
• Run the Program Lifecycle: Own program startup and baselining milestone and qualification reviews export and ITAR obligations with Trade Compliance customer acceptance and closeout across our U.S. and European sites.
• Champion the Customer: Be the trusted point of contact for customers through milestone reviews interoperability campaigns acceptance and delivery. Partner with BD & Strategy on proposals and with the Product team on pricing and configuration bringing the voice of the customer to every decision.
• Raise the Bar: Mentor the people around you set a high standard for how we show up for customers and help develop the program leaders who will run our next generation of laser communications programs.

QUALIFICATIONS YOULL BRING AS A SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER II

• Engineering Foundation: Bachelors degree in Engineering Physics or Math.
• Technical Depth: Working understanding of free-space optical or RF communications: link budgets pointing acquisition and tracking modems and coding and space or airborne environmental qualification.
• 8 years inspace aerospace or photonics hardware programs with multiple full program cycles. Weweightthe hardest thing youve shipped over the count.
• Customer Delivery: A track record of leading a complex hardware program to delivery (customer schedule risk and acceptance) and carrying it across the finish line under real pressure.
• Production Delivery: Evidence youve moved real hardware from prototype to qualified rate-production delivery to customers.
• Program Financials: Experience managing program cost EAC and customer contract changes in partnership with finance and product teams on a program of meaningful scale.
• Proof Point: Youve delivered hardware at rate to a demanding customer and kept their trust through a hard moment such as a slip a test failure or a contract change.
• Clearance: U.S. Person status required (ITAR/EAR); ability to obtain a security clearance preferred.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Domain Authority: Direct experience with optical inter-satellite links or optical ground or airborne terminals.
• Production Velocity: A proven playbook for taking low-volume hand-built optical or electro-optical hardware into high-rate production without sacrificing reliability.
• Constellation Fluency: Experiencedelivering tolarge commercial or defense constellation programs.
• Customer Leadership: Experience as the primary customer interface for constellation operators or satellite primes from kickoff through acceptance.
• Global Leadership: Experience leading program work across geographically dispersed sites including export-control and dual-use compliance.
• Advanced Technical Credibility: AMasters degree in Electrical Engineering Optics/Photonics Physics or a related field.
• Systems & Toolchain Fluency: You speak systems engineering (trade studies interface control requirement integrity) and use Jira Confluence and ERP/MRP to keep program health visible at speed.
• AI Fluency: You put AI tools to work in day-to-day program management from schedule and risk analysis to status reporting and customer communications so you and your team spend more time on the problems that matter.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting standing walking computer work and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise dust and fumes in production areas.

Join one of the worlds fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of addition to competitive base pay youll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites groundbreaking missions and global markets your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock) top-tier medical plans (HMO PPO and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution) dental and vision coverage paid vacation and sick time 11 paid holidays flexible spending and dependent care accounts paid parental leave disability and life insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging onsite fitness centers (where available) discounted gym memberships complimentary snacks and beverages 50% employee discount on our popular merch store and a variety of other employee discounts.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills education and experience.

Base Pay Range (CA Only)

$153000 - $229500 USD

WHAT TO EXPECT

Were on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth but thats not an easy task. 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 others 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:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

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 (i.e. current Green Card holder) or 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 as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

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.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

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. For more information on these Regulations click here ITAR Regulations.

Required Experience:

Senior IC