Senior IT Engineer

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access space. The rockets and satellites we build, and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Our Electron rockethas become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Rocket Lab’s IT team is responsible for how our global teams access information and run operations across our computer systems, networks, and devices. Our hardworking IT team is a group of flexible problem-solvers working in a fast-paced environment but who also thrive under the challenge of supporting all of our proprietary systems and people, from finance to launch operations.

Based onsite at Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior IT Engineer will lead and be responsible for the design and implementation of network infrastructure and applications at Rocket Lab. You will be a senior member of the team that delivers a global focus on all the infrastructure and software that will enable Rocket Lab Engineers and Space Systems personnel to deliver our world class IT Infrastructure capabilities.

You will deliver subject matter expertise, advise, and guidance on our infrastructure that support the Rocket Lab teams. You will lead upgrades, maintenance, project scoping, planning, and deployment for network infrastructure, all with a focus on continuous improvement to provide a reliable and secure infrastructure.

Champion the IT Network Infrastructure Standards function(s) at Rocket Lab through the implementation of Standards for the deployment and management of the Space Systems infrastructure environments to ensure:

• Compliance with Rocket Lab Policies
• Compliance with cybersecurity policies, standards, and procedures
• Simplified and consistent environment management practices
• Automated build and maintenance processes
• Improvements to increase reliability of systems
• System High Availability and Disaster Recovery
• That the team is providing effective support
• Clear and concise reporting on usage, uptime, support levels, etc.
• Comprehensive documentation of environments and support

Work with a team of world class IT, engineering, and business professionals.

• 5+ years of experience in IT and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of experience (9+ years of work experience)
• 2+ of those years of experience in a network focused technology role
• Hands‑on experience with the deployment of networking hardware (routers, switches, firewalls, etc.)
• Understanding of networking concepts including network security, network architecture design, technical standards and deliverables, troubleshooting tools
• In-depth knowledge of at least one of:
  • Fortinet Firewalls and Juniper/Cisco Switches
  • Enterprise Network architecture or administration
  • SD‑WAN, Multicasting, Routing (BGP) and Switching (VLAN, EVPN‑VXLAN) overlays
  • Network Monitoring tools and Packet capture practices
  • Linux/Windows system administration

• Specialist qualification in area of expertise: CCNA, CCNP
• Experience with mass deployment of devices or IaC
• Experience with Puppet, Ansible, or other automation frameworks
• Experience with Python, Shell, Bash, and/or other languages
• Experience with Promethius, Grafana, InfluxDB
• Advanced problem solving and analytical skills – able to see the big picture, make connections and appropriate decisions

• Specific vision…