Senior Software Engineer I - Data Engineering

The job

LIVE Employer public job feed (private-sector employer) Source: the employer's public careers feed · Data: listed 2026-07-30

Job description

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.

SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER I - DATA ENGINEERING

At Rocket Lab, operational data drives everything from production acceptance to mission success. The Data Engineering team builds the foundational infrastructure, platforms, and tools that make this possible, providing long-term storage, data management, discovery, and access for data across all verticals. Our platforms enable data processing and automation at scale, while our applications and services provide the visualization and reporting capabilities that engineers rely on throughout the product lifecycle.

We're seeking a Senior Software Engineer to help us build and scale the data infrastructure that powers Rocket Lab's operations.

Based onsite at Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA, you'll design, build, and maintain core data platforms and services that enable engineers across the company to access and work with operational data. You'll collaborate with teams across development, testing, production, and mission operations to build robust, scalable solutions—from data pipelines and storage systems to APIs and processing platforms. Your work will directly impact our ability to validate hardware, execute missions, and improve performance across all Rocket Lab verticals.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Design, build, and deploy tools and services that power operational data access across Rocket Lab
• Collaborate with engineering teams across multiple verticals and time zones to understand data requirements and deliver scalable infrastructure solutions
• Develop and maintain apps, services, and platforms that can scale with the business’ needs.
• Build automation and tools that enable engineers to discover, access, and work with operational data efficiently
• Own services end-to-end—from architecture and development through deployment and production support

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS: To thrive in this role, you’ll bring strong backend software engineering experience, a solid grasp of data pipelines, and a passion for building scalable, reliable systems. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A degree or diploma in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience
• At least 5 years of professional experience in software engineering or a related discipline
• Expertise in Python development and a deep understanding of backend architecture
• Experience deploying services at scale, and familiarity with CI/CD and containerization
• Strong Git skills for version control and collaboration
• Experience with Kubernetes or similar orchestration tools for managing containerized applications
• Hands-on experience designing and developing REST APIs
• Familiarity with issue tracking tools like Jira or Redmine
• U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Proficiency with common data analysis libraries/tools (e.g., Pandas, Numpy), and building ETL pipelines
• Experience in data visualization, data science and numerical analysis techniques
• Familiarity with agile development practices
• Database knowledge (SQL)
• Experience with web and user interface development

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one component of our total rewards package at Rocket Lab.  Employees may also receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package including: top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Other perks include: Discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.

Eligibility for benefits may vary based on employment status, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role. Benefit programs are subject to change at the company’s discretion.

WHAT TO EXPECT 

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. 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 our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.   

Important information:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment 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 at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant.  These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations. 

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.  For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.

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Field: Technology Sub-niche: Data, analytics and AI All jobs at Rocket Lab Corporation Jobs in California Jobs in Long Beach, CA Long Beach city guide California state guide Los Angeles County economy

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About the role

This is a — role in the Technology field (Data, analytics and AI) at Rocket Lab Corporation.

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The city

The job is in Long Beach, CA. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.

How Long Beach compares. Among the 145 largest places in California, Long Beach is #7 by population, #131 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #114 for household income (#1 = highest), #34 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Los Angeles County, is #7 of 58 counties for average pay ($83,554).

The place in numbers

Long Beach has 455,548 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 1.2% of the population of California. It covers 51 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 8,990 people per square mile. The median age is 37.1, about the same as the state median (37.1 against 37.9).

Housing

The median gross rent is $1,871 a month (rent plus utilities), 8% below the state median ($1,871 against $2,036). Over a year that is 25.7% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $806,600, which is 9.2 times the median household income ($87,430); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 41.2% of households own their home, 26% below the state average (41.2% against 55.9%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.

Work and pay

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area has 6,271,560 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $55,850 a year, 10% above the national median ($55,850 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (702,480 jobs, median $52,710); food preparation and serving related (588,660 jobs, median $38,460); healthcare support (537,460 jobs, median $35,630). The area is most specialised in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media (2.2 times) and healthcare support (1.7 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($136,490) and legal ($128,110). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Los Angeles County was 4.5%. 66.2% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Los Angeles County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.

Getting around

Among workers, 66.8% drive alone, 3.8% use public transit, 2.6% walk, 16.2% work from home. 21.0% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 8% above the state average (21.0% against 19.4%).

People and education

35.6% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 4% below the state share (35.6% against 37.1%). 24.8% of residents were born outside the United States, 8% below the state share (24.8% against 27.0%). The poverty rate is 14.8%, 23% above the state rate (14.8% against 12.0%).

Climate

The warmest month is Aug, averaging 75°F (23.9°C), and the coolest is Dec at 53°F (11.8°C). About 332 mm (13 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Feb is the wettest month (75 mm) and Jun the driest (1 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.

Nearby cities to compare

Closest cities in this guide: Lakewood (5 miles, rent 25% higher); Carson (6 miles, rent 5% higher); Bellflower (8 miles, similar rent); Compton (9 miles, rent 11% lower). Rent differences are against Long Beach; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.

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Official links for Long Beach

• Official website of Long Beach: longbeach.gov
• Census Bureau data profile for Long Beach
• Official website of Los Angeles County: lacounty.gov
• Official state website: ca.gov
• BLS Economy at a Glance: California

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Career paths

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Cybersecurity (713) Software engineering (4089) Cloud, IT and infrastructure (1040) Product management (836)

Distances

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The employer

Rocket Lab Corporation is the employer in this listing. See all its open jobs here →

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What it is like to work at a company (culture, schedules, benefits) is not in the source data, so we do not describe it. Read the description and ask the questions under "How to prepare".

Other open jobs at Rocket Lab Corporation

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Same sub-niche: Data, analytics and AI

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FAQ

What is the Senior Software Engineer I - Data Engineering job at Rocket Lab Corporation?

A private-sector role in technology (data, analytics and ai) listed 102 days ago. The full description is on this page and on the employer's page.

Where is this job?

Long Beach, CA.

How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on the employer's page" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay, and we could not match the title to one official occupation.

What is the cost of living there?

Median rent in Long Beach is $1,871 a month and median household income $87,430 (ACS 2020–2024).

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-07-30 (102 days ago). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse data, analytics and ai jobs in California.

Sources and terms

• Job data: Rocket Lab Corporation careers page public feed (listing dated 2026-07-30). The job disappears from this site when it disappears from the source.
• Wages and projections: BLS OEWS (May 2025) and Employment Projections 2025–35.
• City and county figures: Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, BEA, BLS QCEW and LAUS, NASA POWER climatology; distances from Census Gazetteer coordinates.

AtiveSite is not affiliated with or endorsed by the employer or any government agency, and does not process applications. Verify every detail with the employer before acting.

Sources

• BLS OEWS (wages and employment by occupation, May 2025)
• BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
• BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
• BLS JOLTS
• BLS State and Metro Area Employment
• Census Bureau American Community Survey (via Census Reporter)
• BEA GDP by state and Regional Price Parities
• IRS 2026 tax adjustments
• U.S. Department of Labor, minimum wage by state
• Tax Foundation state income tax rates 2026
• USAJOBS
• USCIS
• U.S. Department of State, visas
• NASA POWER climatology
• GeoNames / Census Gazetteer (coordinates)