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.
SENIOR PROPOSAL MANAGER I
Based out of Rocket Lab's site in Chantilly, VA, the Senior Proposal Manager plays a key role in creating compliant and compelling business proposals that win new business with US and international customers. This role primarily supports the Space Systems Business Development team, with a specific focus on satellite opportunities.
WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:
- Develop and execute proposal plans, including analyzing RFPs, creating outlines, and building compliance matrices.
- Collaborate with the Business Development Manager and/or Director to craft winning proposal strategies and develop compelling messaging.
- Write and manage compliant, high-quality proposals that clearly address RFP requirements.
- Take responsibility for specific volumes of proposals, ensuring they are well-written, compliant, and align with the overall strategy.
- Lead proposal kick-off meetings and facilitate regular check-ins with contributors to ensure timelines are met.
- Coordinate with internal teams (such as engineering, finance, legal) to gather and refine content for proposals.
- Create and manage proposal templates, reusable content, and visual elements (charts, tables, and infographics).
- Conduct quality assurance reviews for grammar, consistency, and formatting to ensure polished submissions.
- Oversee final production and submission, ensuring proposals are delivered on time and meet customer requirements.
- Document lessons learned, and recommend process improvements for future proposals.
- Support travel as needed (~10%).
YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in technical, management, or business discipline.
- 5+ years of experience in proposal management.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
- Demonstrated success leading proposals with values greater than $100 million.
- Technical writing expertise, with a proven ability to translate complex technical information into clear, concise, and persuasive language tailored to different audiences.
- Project management experience, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines while ensuring high-quality deliverables.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams to achieve proposal objectives.
THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:
- Active U.S. security clearance.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
- Experience using tools such as Salesforce and SharePoint.
- Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks.
- Background in organizational effectiveness and operations, implementing best practices.
- Experience with proposal frameworks and methodologies.
- Familiarity with industry-standard proposal processes such as Shipley or APMP.
- Familiarity with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
- Aerospace or defense industry experience, with a strong understanding of the competitive landscape, customer base, and technology trends in the aerospace or satellite industry.
- Ability to effectively present proposal concepts and strategies to internal stakeholders, including team members and leadership.
- Proven ability to build relationships with internal stakeholders, including engineers, leadership, and cross-functional team members.
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 state of Virginia’s pay transparency requirements. 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 a technical, management, or business discipline
- 5+ years of proposal management experience
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
- Demonstrated success leading proposals valued at more than $100 million
- Technical writing expertise and ability to translate complex technical information into clear, persuasive language
- Project management experience managing multiple projects and deadlines
- Experience leading cross-functional teams to achieve proposal objectives
- Active U.S. security clearance
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel
- Experience using Salesforce and SharePoint
- Experience in organizational effectiveness and operations
- Experience with proposal frameworks and methodologies
- Familiarity with Shipley or APMP proposal processes
- Familiarity with ITAR and EAR
- Aerospace or defense industry experience, particularly aerospace or satellite industry knowledge
- Ability to present proposal concepts and strategies to internal stakeholders
- Ability to build relationships with engineers, leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders
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.
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