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Salary: USD 116,800 - 160,600 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Mission Manager to manage customer missions from contract signature through payload integration and launch. Based at a North American site (Long Beach, CA), you will work with both commercial and government customers, overseeing technical, programmatic, and financial milestones for the HASTE program, with launches from Auckland, New Zealand or Wallops, Virginia.
Key responsibilities include:
- Management of multiple customer missions, tracking technical, programmatic, and financial milestones
- Hands-on oversight of payload integration activities, including fit checks, dispenser integration, and launch vehicle integration
- Leading technical milestone reviews with customers (mission design reviews, test readiness reviews)
- Supporting business development with proposal input, lead generation, and technical sales engineering reviews
- Development and verification of Launch Vehicle to Payload Spacecraft Interface Control Documentation (ICD)
- Maintaining constant customer contact to answer technical questions with engineering staff support
- Representing the company at public events, conferences, industry forums, and recruiting events
- Mentoring Mission Integrators to expand their mission management skillset
The role requires frequent domestic and international travel, including to launch pads, customer sites, and Rocket Lab's New Zealand facility.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or technical discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace preferred)
- 5+ years of mission management or technical program management experience
- Hardware integration or project management experience on launch vehicles or spacecraft projects
- Ability to travel to launch pads, customer sites, and overseas locations
- Must be willing and able to obtain TS/SCI Clearance
- U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent resident status, or eligible for required ITAR authorizations
NICE-TO-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with suborbital and/or hypersonic payloads
- ITAR experience and establishment of TAAs
- Previous mission management or mission integration experience
- Hands-on experience with complex mechanical systems
- Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills; ability to assist with sales closure
- Understanding of technical constraints relative to payload launch and mission-specific analysis
- Solid presentation and technical writing skills
