Senior Program Manager I - Advanced RF Systems (TS/SCI) Verified today

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. The Electron rocket has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit. Rocket Lab's Space Systems business designs and builds satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft selected for NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

The Role

Based at Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA, you are the program authority for next-generation RF systems and payloads. You own the technical roadmap and strategic program decisions from the first prototype through flight qualification and into high-rate production. This is a high-ownership role: you'll turn the hardest problems of National Security, civil, and commercial customers into concrete technical milestones, and the program runs on you.

What You'll Do

• Command the Lifecycle: Build and lead the team taking RF payloads, transponders, SAR, and communications systems from concept through qualification, high-rate production, and flight. 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 trade-offs in phased arrays, digital signal processing, and high-rate manufacturing, and personally dive into program-threatening problems.
• Build the Bench: Grow a culture where strong people take smart risks and the best idea wins. Back bold calls and treat intelligent misses as the cost of moving fast.
• 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.
• Influence the Future: Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned National Security, civil, and commercial customers. Partner with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in physics, math, science, or other technical discipline
• 5+ years of program management experience
• Demonstrated track record of owning a technical program, product, or team end to end and carrying it across the finish line under real pressure
• Evidence you've moved real hardware and software from prototype toward scalable, flight-ready production
• Understanding of the nuances of transponders, SAR, or advanced communication systems
• Experience identifying technical, schedule, or supply-chain risk and neutralizing it before it impacts the mission
• Active TS/SCI clearance

Nice to Have

• Proven playbook for transitioning low-volume prototypes into high-rate production without sacrificing mission reliability
• Deep experience navigating National Security Space or massive commercial telecommunications constellation architectures
• Demonstrated success negotiating, capturing, and executing large U.S. Government or major commercial contracts
• Master's degree in Engineering or related field
• Fluency with Systems Engineering, trade studies, interface control, requirement integrity, Jira, Confluence, and ERP
• 8+ years in aerospace/defense

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary range (CA only): $115,000 to $160,000 USD. Level and base salary determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Total rewards package includes company equity and benefits: top tier medical HMO, PPO and 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, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts. Eligibility for benefits varies based on employment status.

Work Environment

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.

Required Authorization

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce.