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Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Program Manager I to lead program execution for its Space Systems division, based at the company's Albuquerque, NM site (part of the SolAero Technologies acquisition). This role owns the complete program lifecycle—definition, planning, execution, and closeout—for assigned programs, managing scope, schedule, budget, revenue forecasting, margin, and P&L in alignment with customer and corporate objectives.
Key responsibilities include serving as the principal customer contact; ensuring on-time, on-budget, on-spec delivery; anticipating customer needs and managing scope/schedule/budget changes; maintaining compliance with program contract requirements across engineering, manufacturing, test, and quality assurance; providing performance visibility to customers; defining program tasks, schedules, and budgets with manufacturing; interfacing with functional management to secure adequate resources; owning program P&L and monthly financial reporting; identifying and mitigating risks and issues; recommending solutions to cross-functional bottlenecks; monitoring team delivery (internal, external, local, remote); communicating progress to staff and executive levels; applying critical thinking to complex, high-impact problems; managing multiple concurrent efforts with attention to detail; working effectively across all organizational levels; demonstrating strong written and verbal communication for executive audiences; exhibiting conflict resolution, negotiation, and influence skills; and thriving in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Project Management, or related field; 5+ years of project/program management or managerial experience with large-scale, cross-functional projects in technology environments; program management experience preferably in solar and/or wind industries, specifically managing Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts. Preferred: experience in energy project management, financial analysis, project financing within solar industry, and understanding of energy project economics (capital cost, variable cost, etc.). The role demands proven project management methodology expertise, strong organizational and detail-oriented skills, and the ability to thrive in dynamic, changing conditions.
