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Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager to lead the development and production of advanced electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensing payloads for space domain awareness and national security missions. Based at Rocket Lab's Long Beach headquarters, you will serve as the program authority and technical leader for optical and infrared sensing systems, owning the complete lifecycle from concept through flight qualification and scalable production.
You will command multiple active programs simultaneously, making critical architectural decisions alongside Chief Engineers on complex trade-offs involving pointing stability, sensor sensitivity, and revisit rates. Your responsibilities include building and leading a high-performing team of engineers and program specialists, developing the technical roadmap for core capabilities, and managing the transition from low-volume prototypes to flight-ready production systems.
Key responsibilities include: leading cross-functional teams across optics, electronics, software, and data systems; managing high-stakes subcontracts and supplier relationships as strategic partners; identifying and neutralizing technical, schedule, and supply-chain risks before they impact missions; serving as the primary technical point of contact for U.S. Government customers in tracking, warning, and surveillance; and partnering with business development on proposals and technical strategy for next-generation space domain awareness systems.
You will foster a culture of intelligent risk-taking, where strong people are empowered to make bold decisions and the best ideas win regardless of hierarchy. The role requires deep immersion in operational realities of national security space missions and the ability to personally dive into program-threatening problems alongside the team.
Required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in physics, math, science, or related technical discipline; 5+ years of program management experience with a demonstrated track record of owning technical programs end-to-end; proven experience moving real hardware and software from prototype toward scalable, flight-ready production; understanding of EO/IR sensing, optical payloads, or focal plane arrays; experience identifying and mitigating technical and supply-chain risk; and an active TS/SCI security clearance.
Desirable qualifications include a proven playbook for transitioning prototypes to production, deep experience in National Security Space or large sensing constellations, success capturing and executing large U.S. Government contracts, a Master's degree in Engineering or Optics, and fluency with systems engineering and development toolchains.
