Spacecraft Operations Engineer II​/Senior

Spacecraft Operations Engineer II / Senior – Secret Clearance

Location:

Long Beach, CA (Rocket Lab headquarters)

This role ensures the health, safety, and optimal performance of a growing fleet of commercial and government satellites, supporting missions including LEO constellations, interplanetary exploration, LEO rendezvous, and SDA‑related deployments.

• Leverage automation to operate spacecraft, focusing on software‑driven solutions for efficient and reliable mission execution.
• Design, develop, and test ground software for long‑term space operations, including scripting for robust and automated operations.
• Design, develop, and test flight‑software sequences and FDIR/telemetry configurations to support spacecraft health and fault management.
• Maintain continuous integration and testing of operational code.
• Participate in on‑call rotations or shift operations as required.
• Develop test methods, data analysis techniques, and interface specifications, CONOPS, and other design documents.
• Run validation against spacecraft simulation tools (flatsat, HITL, etc.).
• Support AIT teams across multiple integrated‑test activities (TVAC, propulsion stack, DITL).
• Perform requirements validation and verification for subsystems and spacecraft missions.
• Generate and maintain mission requirements, including creation and disposition.
• Provide program and product support to team leads and program managers and act as key technical interface between New Zealand and U.S. engineering teams.

• 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 operations.
• Understanding of key spacecraft subsystems: attitude determination and control, electrical power, space–ground communications, on‑orbit command and data handling, and thermal control.
• Experience with orbital mechanics and rigid‑body dynamics.
• Software development experience in Python, Ruby, C, C++, or other high‑level languages.
• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance with TS eligibility.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or related discipline).
• 5+ years of direct experience in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command & control, or operations.
• Same technical knowledge as outlined for Engineer II.
• Software development experience in Python, Ruby, C, C++, or other high‑level languages.
• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance with TS eligibility.

• Master’s or PhD in an engineering discipline.
• Prior experience in spacecraft operations or satellite system design.
• Exposure to modern development practices (GIT, CI/CD, cloud infrastructure).
• Experience with Software‑in‑the‑Loop (SIL) or Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) testing.
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance.

• Competitive base salary ($86,000—$125,000 USD for California).
• Company equity.
• Medical HMO and PPO plans plus 100% company‑sponsored HSA option.
• Dental and vision coverage.
• Paid vacation (3 weeks) and sick leave (5 days per year).
• Paid holidays (11 per year).
• Flexible spending and dependent‑care savings accounts.
• Paid parental leave.
• Disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact the provided resource for assistance.