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.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Rocket Lab’s Business Development team is responsible for connecting customers across government and commercial sectors with our industry leading mission solutions spanning launch and space systems. They work closely with new and existing customers to understand their needs and develop tailored solutions to deliver their missions. Building and maintaining relationships with customers and internally with engineering and operations teams is at the core of our Business Development team. They have their fingers on the pulse of the space industry and are driven to deliver results for our customers and our business.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER I
Based at Rocket Lab’s site in Littleton, CO, the HASTE Business Development & Strategy Engineer is an early-career opportunity to build expertise at the intersection of hypersonic flight testing, national security, and business development. In this role, you’ll support the growth of Rocket Lab’s HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) business and the pursuit of new opportunities supporting the nation’s hypersonic test and evaluation needs.
As an integral member of Rocket Lab’s Global Launch Services (GLS) Business Development team, you’ll work alongside experienced professionals and collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Mission Management, Production, and other teams. Reporting directly to the Director of Business Development, HASTE, you’ll develop experience supporting opportunity identification, market and competitive analysis, capture and proposal activities, and the development of mission concepts and business cases.
WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:
- Draft proposals for new business opportunities in collaboration with Business Development and Engineering teams.
- Support the Business Development team in tracking opportunities, analyzing pipeline activity, and forecasting demand for HASTE capabilities.
- Coordinate with Engineering to assess mission requirements and develop timely technical responses to inquiries related to HASTE capabilities.
- Work cross-functionally with Production and Engineering to establish realistic, achievable NRE timelines and launch dates for future missions.
- Collaborate with Communications and Business Development to maintain and improve HASTE marketing materials, data sheets, and user guides.
- Partner with Engineering to identify and address technical gaps and support efforts to improve and standardize customer-facing technical documentation.
- Use internal tools, including Salesforce, to track leads, opportunities, and proposals and support Business Development reporting and KPI development.
- Support Business Development activities related to launch service agreements, technical assistance agreements, and non-disclosure agreements, as well as Jira ticket creation, tracking, and prioritization.
- Build and maintain knowledge of the suborbital launch and hypersonic test markets, including competitive capabilities, customer demand, and emerging trends, to support sales forecasting, pricing strategy, business planning, and HASTE product development.
YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, or other technical discipline.
- Professional or internship experience in an engineering role within the aerospace, defense, or national security industries.
- U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:
- Experience or academic exposure to the design, manufacturing, integration, or testing of hypersonic systems, payloads, or flight vehicles.
- Experience with hypersonic systems, flight testing, or launch vehicles is a plus.
- Familiarity with current hypersonic flight test, missile defense, suborbital launch, or related national security markets.
- Experience working on fast-paced engineering programs with geographically distributed or cross-functional teams.
- Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related engineering discipline, such as mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering.
- Experience with Python scripting, trajectory generation, or trajectory analysis.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated curiosity and enthusiasm for aerospace, hypersonics, and national security applications.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently when needed.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and colleagues with diverse technical backgrounds and areas of expertise.
- Ability to understand complex technical concepts and communicate them clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.
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.
The expected salary range for the position is displayed in accordance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Final agreed upon compensation is based upon individual qualifications and experience.
Base salary is only one part of Rocket Lab’s compensation package for this role. You may be eligible for company stock, or cash incentives, and can purchase discounted stock through Rocket Lab’s Employee Stock Purchase Program. Employee benefits also include 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.
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 [email protected] 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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or another technical discipline
- Professional or internship experience in an engineering role within aerospace, defense, or national security
- U.S. citizenship
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
- Experience or academic exposure to hypersonic systems, payloads, or flight vehicles
- Experience with hypersonic systems, flight testing, or launch vehicles
- Familiarity with hypersonic flight test, missile defense, suborbital launch, or national security markets
- Experience with fast-paced engineering programs and cross-functional teams
- Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related engineering discipline
- Experience with Python scripting, trajectory generation, or trajectory analysis
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate complex technical concepts clearly
Rocket Lab Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Rocket Lab and has not been reviewed or approved by Rocket Lab.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as robust, with multiple HMO/PPO options and a 100% company‑sponsored HSA plan alongside dental and vision. Company materials and postings also note life and disability insurance and an overall strong medical offering for U.S. roles.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity participation is emphasized through RSUs and a discounted ESPP with a look‑back feature, positioned as a meaningful part of total rewards. Filings and benefits summaries highlight broad accessibility to ownership programs across many roles.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is outlined as a full suite that includes paid vacation, sick time, paid holidays, and paid parental leave. Some locations also feature supportive extras such as a childcare concierge and onsite amenities.
Rocket Lab Insights
What We Do
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, spacecraft components, satellites and other spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle and the Photon satellite platform and is developing the Neutron 8-ton payload class launch vehicle. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 100+ satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a second launch site in Virginia, USA which is expected to become operational in late 2022. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.
