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Salary: USD 134,000 - 179,000 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Project Manager II to lead multiple concurrent projects across its Robotics and Space Systems divisions. Based onsite in Pasadena, CA, you will report to the Director of Programs and serve as the primary project interface to customers and internal stakeholders, maintaining disciplined control of cost, schedule, and scope across a simultaneous project portfolio.
Key responsibilities include:
- Own the full project lifecycle—planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout—for multiple concurrent projects across robotics and electromechanical product lines.
- Develop and maintain detailed project plans, work breakdown structures (WBS), integrated master schedules (IMS), and budgets for each assigned project.
- Establish and enforce planning and control baselines; track cost, schedule, and technical performance against baselines and communicate variances proactively.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for customers on assigned projects; organize and lead customer milestone reviews such as Kickoff Meetings, PDRs, and CDRs.
- Lead cross-functional project teams consisting of Design, Electrical, Software, and Manufacturing/Technician personnel, coordinating priorities across simultaneous projects.
- Manage technical and project-level risks; identify scope changes and contractual modifications; develop and communicate corrective actions in a timely manner.
- Drive action item tracking and follow-through using agile project management tools; lead regular team and customer status meetings.
- Compile and present project status, schedule, and cost reporting to customers and senior leadership.
- Support proposal development efforts in partnership with Business Development, including basis-of-estimate (BOE) generation and proposal documentation.
- Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and repeatability across the project management function.
- Mentor and support junior Project Administrators and Project Managers within the Programs team.
Rocket Lab Robotics develops advanced robotic and automated systems that support Rocket Lab's high-reliability manufacturing, test, and mission-enabling operations. The team brings together engineering, production, supply chain, quality, and operations to build hardware, tooling, and integrated systems needed to move quickly from concept through production. Rocket Lab's Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration and in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 8+ years of project management experience in the aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing industry, with demonstrated success delivering projects on time and within budget.
- Proven ability to manage multiple simultaneous small-to-mid-size projects with competing priorities and deadlines.
- Experience managing the full project lifecycle from proposal support through contract closeout.
- Strong command of project planning tools; high proficiency in MS Project required.
- Working knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM/EVMS) principles and experience applying them to program cost and schedule reporting.
- Experience with government contracting environments and familiarity with ITAR-controlled programs.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in a matrixed organization without direct authority over all contributors.
- Proficient in MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Must be a U.S. Citizen due to program requirements.
Nice-to-have qualifications:
- PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or active pursuit thereof.
- Experience with space robotics, electromechanical systems, or motion control products.
- Familiarity with agile project management methodologies and tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence).
- Experience with Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) in a DoD or NASA contracting context.
- Established relationships with NASA, FFRDC, or DoD program offices.
- Experience supporting Business Development through capture activities and proposal coordination.
- Graduate-level degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or Project/Systems Management.
