We counted how often Rocket Lab Corporation's own 23 ads (those with a full description) state each requirement. This shows the filters the ads apply before anyone reads a resume. We have no data on why candidates are rejected after applying, and we do not guess.
Years of experience. 21 of 23 ads (91%) state a number of years. The median is 8 years; 90% ask for 5 or more and 33% for 10 or more.
Education
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
Bachelor's degree
21
91%
Master's degree
8
35%
'or equivalent experience' accepted
5
22%
PhD or doctorate
4
17%
Legal and eligibility: what can rule you out
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
U.S. citizenship mentioned
23
100%
U.S. person / export-control (ITAR, EAR) rules
23
100%
Background check or drug test
23
100%
Security clearance mentioned
15
65%
Working conditions
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
Nights, weekends, holidays or on-call
20
87%
On-site or in-person work
14
61%
Relocation mentioned
2
9%
Travel mentioned
1
4%
Skills and tools named most often
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
c++
10
43%
python
8
35%
linux
8
35%
jira
6
26%
matlab
5
22%
fpga
5
22%
kubernetes
5
22%
docker
4
17%
pmp
3
13%
typescript
2
9%
cad
1
4%
machine learning
1
4%
sql
1
4%
How to stand out
First, cover the basics the ads ask for most (see the requirements above: c++ (43%), python (35%), linux (35%), jira (26%)). Then look at what separates higher-paid ads:
Among the 20 ads that publish a pay range, we compared the median pay of ads that name each item with ads that do not. This is a correlation in the ads, not a promise: an item can pay more because it comes with senior roles.
Sort:
Item named in the ad ⇅
Ads naming it ⇅
Ads not naming it ⇅
Median pay midpoint with it ⇅
Difference vs ads without it ⇅
linux
8
12
$185,000
+$27,500
'or equivalent experience' accepted
5
15
$165,000
+$7,500
kubernetes
5
15
$160,900
-$4,100
c++
10
10
$165,000
-$14,075
jira
6
14
$160,900
-$18,175
Master's degree
8
12
$157,500
-$21,575
python
5
15
$115,200
-$49,800
We describe only what the ads state. We do not know how recruiters rank candidates.
Same role elsewhere
Where else the same role family is open, with the pay each posts: