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Rocket Lab is seeking a Spacecraft Operations Engineer II to manage the health, safety, and performance of a growing fleet of satellites for commercial and government customers. Based in Littleton, CO, this role supports various mission phases including commissioning, orbit raising, routine operations, and re-entry across diverse mission types such as satellite constellations, interplanetary exploration, and orbital rendezvous.
Key responsibilities include designing and developing ground software for long-term space operations with automated scripting, designing flight software sequences and FDIR/telemetry configuration for spacecraft health and fault management, and maintaining continuous integration and testing of operational code. You will develop test methods and data analysis, create interface specifications and CONOPS documentation, and run validation against spacecraft simulation tools including flatsat and HITL. The role involves supporting AIT teams across multiple spacecraft integrated tests (TVAC, propulsion stack, DITL), performing requirements validation and verification, and generating mission requirements.
You'll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including spacecraft design, software, propulsion, and ground systems, and serve as a key technical interface between Rocket Lab's Auckland, Littleton, and Long Beach engineering teams. The position includes on-call or shift responsibilities for operations support.
Required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or related discipline), 2+ years of direct experience in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command control, or spacecraft operations, and understanding of key spacecraft subsystems including attitude determination and control, electrical power systems, space-ground communications, command and data handling, and thermal control. You must have knowledge of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics, plus software development experience in Python, Ruby, C, C++, or similar languages. U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
Desirable qualifications include a Master's or PhD in engineering, prior spacecraft operations experience, satellite system design background, and satellite ground systems experience.
