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Rocket Lab seeks a Senior Technical Program Manager II to lead the Space Sensing & Domain Awareness program at their Long Beach headquarters. This is a high-ownership role where you will serve as program authority for advanced electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensing payloads and optical systems. You will own the complete technical roadmap and strategic make/buy decisions from prototype conception through flight qualification and into scalable production.
Key responsibilities include: commanding the full lifecycle of EO/IR sensing payloads from blank-sheet concept through qualification and production; leading multiple active programs simultaneously while making sound architectural decisions with Chief Engineers; navigating complex trade-offs in pointing stability, jitter, sensitivity, and revisit rates; building and developing a high-performing team culture that encourages smart risk-taking; managing high-stakes subcontracts and suppliers as strategic partners; synchronizing cross-functional teams across optics, electronics, software, and data systems; and serving as primary technical point of contact for U.S. Government tracking, warning, and surveillance customers.
Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree in physics, math, science, or related technical discipline; 8+ years of program management experience; demonstrated track record of owning technical programs end-to-end and shipping real hardware; evidence of moving hardware and software from prototype toward scalable, flight-ready production; understanding of EO/IR sensing, optical payloads, or focal plane arrays; experience identifying and neutralizing technical, schedule, or supply-chain risks; and active TS/SCI security clearance.
Desirable qualifications include: proven playbook for transitioning low-volume prototypes to scalable production; deep experience in National Security Space or large sensing constellations; success capturing and executing large U.S. Government contracts; Master's degree in Engineering, Optics, or related field; and fluency with systems engineering and technical toolchains.
