Principal Program Manager

The job

LIVE Employer public job feed (private-sector employer) Source: the employer's public careers feed · Data: listed 2026-10-14

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.

SPACE SYSTEMS

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems division builds complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios.

The Space Systems division has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. We have built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help get to space — our Space Systems division is empowering the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

PRINCIPAL PROGRAM MANAGER

Rocket Lab Optical Systems solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance challenges for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Rocket Lab Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.

As a Principal Program Manager for Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, AZ, you will lead EO/IR space missions and ground-based sensor networks, and the research. You must possess experience in managing programs including electronics, software, and EO/IR sensors on space or ground systems.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• Manage multiple contracts, ensuring cost, risk, schedule, staffing resources, and technical performance of company programs or subsystems of major programs, addressing any issues or risks that arise
• Identify and mitigate potential risks to programs, develop contingency plans, develop and execute recovery plans, ensure timely resolution of issues, and track financial impacts
• Work on unusually complex technical problems and provide innovative solutions
• Lead team(s) of engineers in planning and executing test events and resolving issues encountered, both operational and technical
• Work proactively to complete tasks and meet assigned deadlines with little direction
• Build and deliver effective presentations to communicate program status and plans with little direction
• Communicate effectively with team members across disciplines, with project management, and particularly with customers
• Maintain clear and consistent communication and foster strong relationships with a wide range of internal stakeholders, particularly with functional teams and executive leadership
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with key customers, partners, and stakeholders
• Lead program and customer meetings and reviews
• Lead technical interchange meetings with the team members and other project personnel and represent the organization in matters pertaining to project development
• Lead and mentor junior technical staff and program support resources, providing guidance and support as needed
• Develop and closely track Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) for projects and manage Earned Value Management (EVM) metrics (as required)
• Support, and influence/lead where required, proposal and ECP efforts
• Support travel or off-site work as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS YOU’LL BRING AS PRINCIPAL PROGRAM MANAGER:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, or technical discipline
• 12+ years of experience in managing technical projects for the US Government
• Proven ability to lead a team to the completion of programs and project milestones
• Hands-on expertise with active optical systems
• Experience with space EO payloads, test plan development, astronomy, physics, electronics, software, and/or remote sensing
• Active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility 
• U.S citizenship is required, due to program requirements

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Current SSBI clearance
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Self-motivated and capable of performing tasks with minimal oversight
• Superior oral and written communication skills and sound problem-solving skills
• Continuous improvement mindset and high attention to detail and accuracy
• Experience performing and working in a dynamic and high-visibility role
• Excellent management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage resources, and deliver results within given constraints
• Internship or research experience supporting aerospace, defense, or optics-related projects
• Exposure to MBSE concepts and tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler
• Familiarity with environmental testing flight hardware
• Experience with configuration management practices and systems engineering documentation
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including use of formulas and data analysis tools
• Knowledge of astronomy, physics, imaging systems, or remote sensing

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.

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: Operations and Management Sub-niche: Program management All jobs at Rocket Lab Corporation Jobs in Arizona Jobs in Tucson, AZ Tucson city guide Arizona state guide Pima County economy

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About the role

This is a — role in the Operations and Management field (Program management) at Rocket Lab Corporation.

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The city

The job is in Tucson, AZ. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.

How Tucson compares. Among the 80 largest places in Arizona, Tucson is #2 by population, #76 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #71 for household income (#1 = highest), #14 for long commutes (#1 = fewest). Its county, Pima County, is #3 of 15 counties for average pay ($61,936).

The place in numbers

Tucson has 547,073 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 7.4% of the population of Arizona. It covers 242 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,259 people per square mile. The median age is 34.6, 11% younger than the state median (34.6 against 39.0).

Housing

The median gross rent is $1,145 a month (rent plus utilities), 26% below the state median ($1,145 against $1,543). Over a year that is 24.1% 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 $266,200, which is 4.7 times the median household income ($57,073). 51.9% of households own their home, 23% below the state average (51.9% against 67.4%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.

Work and pay

The Tucson, AZ metropolitan area has 389,630 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $47,760 a year, 6% below the national median ($47,760 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (46,550 jobs, median $44,920); food preparation and serving related (36,210 jobs, median $34,990); sales and related (33,700 jobs, median $36,070). The area is most specialised in architecture and engineering (1.5 times) and protective service (1.3 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($100,780) and computer and mathematical ($97,560). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Pima County was 4.8%. 60.7% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Pima County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.

Getting around

Among workers, 68.0% drive alone, 2.3% use public transit, 2.6% walk, 13.8% work from home. 7.9% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 45% below the state average (7.9% against 14.2%).

People and education

31.1% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 7% below the state share (31.1% against 33.3%). 13.4% of residents were born outside the United States, 4% above the state share (13.4% against 13.0%). The poverty rate is 18.9%, 51% above the state rate (18.9% against 12.5%).

Climate

The warmest month is Jun, averaging 82°F (27.5°C), and the coolest is Dec at 45°F (7.4°C). About 323 mm (13 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jul is the wettest month (82 mm) and May the driest (4 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: Catalina Foothills (10 miles, rent 23% higher); Drexel Heights (10 miles, rent 17% higher); Tanque Verde (11 miles, rent 18% higher); Flowing Wells (13 miles, rent 10% lower). Rent differences are against Tucson; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.

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Official links for Tucson

• Official website of Tucson: tucsonaz.gov
• Census Bureau data profile for Tucson
• Official state website: az.gov
• BLS Economy at a Glance: Arizona

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Where to live

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Career paths

We could not match this title to one occupation, so here are the other sub-niches in Operations and Management, where your skills may carry over:

Project management (250) Supply chain and logistics (627) Business operations and strategy (1712) Executive and general management (2106)

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

Similar jobs

Same sub-niche: Program management

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FAQ

What is the Principal Program Manager job at Rocket Lab Corporation?

A private-sector role in operations and management (program management) listed 26 days ago. The full description is on this page and on the employer's page.

Where is this job?

Tucson, AZ.

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 Tucson is $1,145 a month and median household income $57,073 (ACS 2020–2024).

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-10-14 (26 days ago). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse program management jobs in Arizona.

Sources and terms

• Job data: Rocket Lab Corporation careers page public feed (listing dated 2026-10-14). 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)