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Salary: USD 134,300 - 201,350 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Program Manager II for Advanced RF Systems to lead the technical roadmap and strategic program decisions for next-generation RF systems and payloads. Based at Rocket Lab's Long Beach headquarters, you will own the complete lifecycle of RF payloads, transponders, SAR, and communications systems from prototype through flight qualification and high-rate production.
Key responsibilities include:
- Command the Lifecycle: Build and lead the team taking RF payloads from concept through qualification, production, and flight. Own the technical roadmap that grows the team's core capabilities.
- Lead the Team of Teams: Run multiple active programs simultaneously, make architectural decisions with Chief Engineers, navigate trade-offs in phased arrays and digital signal processing, and dive into program-threatening problems alongside the team.
- Build the Bench: Develop a culture where strong people take smart risks and the best idea wins. Coach and develop the next generation of program and team leaders.
- Forge the Supply Chain: Manage high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners, protecting schedule and margin.
- Unblock Excellence: Synchronize cross-functional teams across hardware, software, and spectrum management to maintain speed and quality.
- Influence the Future: Serve as primary point of contact for assigned National Security, civil, and commercial customers. Partner with Business Development and Strategy on proposals and technical narratives.
Rocket Lab's Space Systems team has enabled over 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration to national security initiatives, working with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in physics, math, science, or other technical discipline
- 8+ years of aerospace program management experience
- Demonstrated track record of owning a technical program, product, or team end-to-end and delivering under real pressure
- Evidence of moving real hardware and software from prototype toward scalable, flight-ready production
- Understanding of transponders, SAR, or advanced communication systems
- Experience identifying and neutralizing technical, schedule, or supply-chain risk before it impacts the mission
- Active TS/SCI clearance (required)
Nice-to-have qualifications:
- Proven playbook for transitioning low-volume prototypes into high-rate production
- Deep experience in National Security Space or commercial telecommunications constellation architectures
- Demonstrated success negotiating 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, and tools like Jira, Confluence, and ERP
- Multiple program cycles in aerospace/defense
Note: This position requires U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or eligible authorization under ITAR regulations. Candidates must be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or Department of Commerce.
