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
At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.
Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has 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 them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.
BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER
Based out of Rocket Lab's office in Littleton, CO, the Business Operations Manager will work directly with Senior Leadership to manage and drive closure on key business, operations, staff, and technology initiatives within Space Systems Software and the Denver site location. This position requires a strategic thinker and creative problem solver with strong leadership skills, organizational skills, technical skills, and a persistent desire to make lasting progress. The successful candidate must demonstrate emotional intelligence to operate with confidence in difficult situations and be a role model for dedication to the company mission. Passion for personal and organizational efficiency is a must along with high standard of work product. With some guidance, this person will identify areas of greatest impact to the business, design and test creative solutions, and take ownership to implement them to completion.
WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:
- Work in a fast-paced space software organization using agile principals.
- Make a lasting impact to daily operations, ensuring staff can operate effectively.
- Collaborate with leadership to develop strategic plans that align with company objectives.
- Collaborate with senior leaders using KPIs to drive strategy and execution excellence.
- Collaborate with senior leaders to manage financial performance.
- Design and implement organization-level process related to software technology, IT, business, staffing, hiring, project management, contracts, facilities, security, etc.
- Generate creative and scalable solutions to high impact problems.
- Construct and deliver communications at the organization level
- Maintain strong collaborative relationships with shared services and other business units.
- Implement reporting and autonomy across all business needs.
- Work with AI daily to drive operational excellence
YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, technology, engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of experience working in technology and/or business
- 2+ years’ experience in a leadership role
- Experience in a software, technology, or engineering business
- Experience in AI use for business or technology
- Understanding of agile methodologies
THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:
- Advanced degree in business, accounting, finance, technology, engineering, or related field
- Experience with Jira, Confluence, or similar
- Experience with Excel, including pivot tables
- Experience with aerospace or similar engineering field
- Experience with staff management and compensation
- Experience with P&L management
- Experience with technology integration
- Experience with IT project management
- Experience with AI tool 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.
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 business, accounting, finance, technology, engineering, or a related field
- 5+ years of experience working in technology and/or business
- 2+ years of experience in a leadership role
- Experience in a software, technology, or engineering business
- Experience using AI for business or technology
- Understanding of agile methodologies
- Advanced degree in business, accounting, finance, technology, engineering, or a related field
- Experience with Jira, Confluence, or similar tools
- Experience with Excel, including pivot tables
- Experience with aerospace or a similar engineering field
- Experience with staff management and compensation
- Experience with P&L management
- Experience with technology integration
- Experience with IT project management
- Experience with AI tool development
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.
