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Rocket Lab is seeking a Spacecraft Operations Engineer II/Senior to ensure the health, safety, and optimal performance of a growing fleet of satellites while meeting mission objectives and SLAs for both commercial and government customers. Based on-site at Rocket Lab's Long Beach headquarters, you will support diverse missions including LEO constellations, interplanetary exploration, LEO rendezvous, and Space Development Agency (SDA) deployments.
You will be critical during commissioning, orbit raising, routine operations, and potentially re-entry phases. The role involves close collaboration with spacecraft design, assembly/integration/test (AIT), flight software, propulsion, guidance/navigation/control (GNC), flight dynamics, and ground software development teams to continuously improve ground and satellite-based capabilities.
Key responsibilities include: designing, developing, and testing ground software for long-term space operations with a focus on automation and software-driven solutions; designing and testing flight software sequences and fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR)/telemetry configuration; maintaining continuous integration and testing of operational code; supporting on-call or shift operations; developing test methods and data analysis; creating interface specifications and concept of operations (CONOPS) documents; running validation against spacecraft simulation tools (flatsat, hardware-in-the-loop); supporting AIT teams across multiple spacecraft integrated tests (thermal vacuum, propulsion stack, dynamic integration test labs); performing requirements validation and verification; and serving as a key technical interface between Auckland, NZ and Long Beach engineering teams.
Required qualifications: 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; understanding of key spacecraft subsystems (attitude determination and control, electrical power systems, space-ground communications, command and data handling, thermal control); understanding of space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics; software development experience (Python, Ruby, C, C++, or similar); and active U.S. Government Security Clearance with Top Secret eligibility.
