ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

SPACE SYSTEMS

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team is responsible for every satellite and satellite component made by Rocket Lab: from complete satellites destined for missions to the Moon and Mars, to the individual components and subsystems that make up a satellite like solar panels, flight software, reaction wheels and star trackers, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team is made up of engineers, technicians, and designers who design, create, and put together our own satellites for missions across the commercial, government, and defense sectors, or who build and assemble satellite hardware and software that supports other satellite missions.

TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER - GROUND SYSTEMS

Rocket Lab is looking for a driven Technical Project Manager - Ground Systems, to be based out of our Littleton, CO site. This role will work with a team of engineers on Rocket Lab's flagship efforts to deliver on program milestones related to Space-to-Space Communications, Space-to-Ground Communications, Ground Systems, Payload Software, and Data Security. The successful candidate will have prior experience managing software development efforts for embedded systems, ground systems, and government programs, along with hands-on systems engineering experience. Knowledge of secure network systems is a must have, with experience in ground systems for satellite mission management being an additional benefit. This role will report to the Head of Ground Software.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO

Manage the software development and integration of routers, radios, and laser communication devices on a constellation of spacecraft
Manage the development, integration, and test of ground segment software, including mission operations, command and control, and ground station interfaces
Apply systems engineering discipline across space and ground segments: requirements decomposition and traceability, interface control documents (ICDs), trade studies, and verification planning
Manage suppliers and subcontractors to successfully develop and test an integrated system
Interface directly with subcontractors, consultants, and internal engineering teams to develop and maintain roadmaps, product development plans, provide progress updates, and meet project delivery milestones
Design and develop simulation and test approaches for constellation networking and end-to-end space-to-ground data flows
Define KPIs for contractors and internal development teams
Set the battle rhythm for subcontractors to provide feature drops to the overall program
Develop and maintain staffing plans with senior leadership
Plan major integration points and testing between teams, including space-to-ground segment integration
Lead cross-team planning to align integration schedules and roadmaps across flight software, ground software, and supplier teams, resolving dependencies and conflicts early
Support program technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and own the software and ground segment inputs to them
Lead software teams' agile ceremonies including Increment Planning, Stakeholder reviews, and retrospectives / backlog refinement
Drive best practices for collecting feedback and implementing improvements
Develop and maintain software development standards and procedures to ensure that all software deliverables are of the highest quality and meet customer requirements

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree & 8+ years industry experience in computer science, software engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or similar technical discipline
3+ years of experience with project management and interfacing with external contractors
3+ years of experience with ground systems for spacecraft or satellite programs (e.g., mission operations, command and control, telemetry processing, or ground station networks)