Rocket Lab is looking for a Principal Ground Software Engineer to serve as a technical authority for spacecraft ground software across their Space Systems missions, defining and evolving the end-to-end architecture of ground systems to ensure scalability, reliability, and mission success.
Requirements
- Proven track record architecting web-based software systems at scale
- Strong systems-level thinking, with ability to balance technical trade-offs across performance, security, and maintainability
- Full-stack development experience, including: Backend – Python, Golang, and/or Rust
- Frontend – Typescript and Angular
- Database – InfluxDB, PostgreSQL, or equivalent
- Experience with end-to-end testing frameworks like Playwright
- Experience designing with Python web frameworks (FastAPI or equivalent)
Responsibilities
- Own major parts of architecture and evolve Rocket Lab’s web-based ground software platforms for spacecraft operations.
- Partner with flight software developers, mission operations personnel, and systems engineers to translate mission needs into scalable ground system designs.
- Deploy, configure, and optimize the Rocket Lab Ground Data System for diverse mission profiles.
- Establish robust monitoring, alerting, and reliability frameworks to proactively detect and mitigate issues.
- Provide technical direction and architectural guidance to ensure mission resilience, system integration, and long-term maintainability.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on ground software strategy, risk areas, and emerging technologies.
Other
- U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline
- 12+ years of relevant work experience in professional software development
- Aerospace background supporting satellite, spacecraft, constellation, or launch vehicle ground/mission operations
- Demonstrated leadership in end-to-end system design and delivery with engineering teams
