Senior Ground Software Engineer I/II
Rocket Lab Corporation is seeking a Senior Ground Software Engineer I/II to join our Space Systems team in Littleton, Colorado. In this role, you will serve as a technical authority for spacecraft ground software across various missions, helping to define and evolve the end-to-end architecture of ground systems to ensure scalability, reliability, and mission success for both internal teams and external customers. This position offers high visibility, with deliverables that support internal leadership, the board of directors, and investors.
As a Senior Ground Software Engineer, you will own major parts of the architecture and evolve Rocket Lab’s web-based ground software platforms for spacecraft operations. You will partner with flight software developers, mission operations personnel, and systems engineers to translate mission needs into scalable ground system designs. Your responsibilities will include deploying, configuring, and optimizing the Rocket Lab Ground Data System for diverse mission profiles, establishing robust monitoring, alerting, and reliability frameworks to proactively detect and mitigate issues, and providing technical direction and architectural guidance to ensure mission resilience, system integration, and long-term maintainability. Additionally, you will serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on ground software strategy, risk areas, and emerging technologies.
The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or another technical discipline and at least 5 years of relevant work experience in professional software development. A proven track record in architecting web-based software systems at scale is essential, along with strong systems-level thinking and the ability to balance technical trade-offs across performance, security, and maintainability. U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements. Preferred qualifications include full-stack development experience with backend technologies such as Python, Golang, and/or Rust; frontend technologies like Typescript and Angular; and databases such as InfluxDB or PostgreSQL. Experience with end-to-end testing frameworks like Playwright, a background in aerospace supporting satellite or spacecraft operations, and familiarity with microservice architectures and distributed systems are also advantageous.
Rocket Lab offers a competitive compensation package, including a base salary ranging from $120,000 to $170,000, eligibility for company stock or cash incentives, and access to a robust benefits package. Benefits include top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks. Additional benefits may include a discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, an onsite gym, and complimentary food and drinks.
Joining Rocket Lab means becoming part of a mission-driven team dedicated to unlocking the potential of space to improve life on Earth. Our culture emphasizes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, and grit. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and focus on delivering results, always striving to achieve what others often deem impossible.