Senior Spacecraft Operations Ground Software Engineer

Responsibilities

• 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 othe

Additional Information

ABOUT ROCKET LAB Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more - all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations. Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope. While other companies talk about it, we do it! ABOUT SPACE SYSTEMS AT ROCKET LAB: Rocket Lab's Space Systems team is responsible for every satellite and satellite component made by Rocket Lab: from complete satellites destined for missions to the Moon and Mars, to the individual components and subsystems that make up a satellite like solar panels, flight software, reaction wheels and star trackers, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team is made up of engineers, technicians, and designers who design, create, and put together our own satellites for missions across the commercial, government, and defense sectors, or who build and assemble satellite hardware and software that supports other satellite missions. Senior Spacecraft Operations Ground Software Engineer As a Senior Spacecraft Operations Ground Software Engineer at Rocket Lab, you'll be at the forefront of space mission operations, developing critical ground software for spacecraft ranging from LEO to interplanetary missions. Join our dynamic team in Auckland and help shape the future of space exploration. WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO Develop mission-critical operations software for spacecraft command and data handling, automation, and visualization across LEO, re-entry, interplanetary, and proximity operations missions Build full-stack web applications including database schema design, back-end services, front-end interfaces, and machine-to-machine communications for spacecraft operations Support live spacecraft operations by providing on-call technical expertise during critical mission phases and participating in ground-based test campaigns Architect scalable software solutions by designing and evolving versatile ground software systems that can adapt to diverse and complex mission requirements Lead technical initiatives including facilitating scrum activities, conducting code reviews, approving software architectures, and mentoring junior engineers on best practices YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS: Strong educational foundation with a tertiary qualification in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or similar discipline, plus minimum 5 years of professional experience Full-stack development expertise with proficiency in Python for async backend development and TypeScript with modern frameworks (Angular, React, or Vue) for frontend applications Database and infrastructure knowledge including RDBMS design and SQL, containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes), cloud provider experience, and Linux proficiency for development and production environments Testing and quality focus as a proponent of unit, integration, and end-to-end testing methodologies with experience implementing comprehensive test coverage Collaborative leadership skills with experience in Agile scrum methodologies, ability to lead technical meetings, and a positive team-player attitude that fosters cross-functional collaboration THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE: Distributed systems experience with third-party integrations including metrics collection, message brokers, and time series databases (e.g., InfluxDB) DevOps proficiency with understanding of CI/CD pipelines and experience creating clean REST APIs for system integration Network programming skills including experience with TCP, WebSockets, and real-time communication protocols Aerospace industry background with experience in satellite operations, interface specifications, CONOPS definition, and mission design documentation Advanced system design experience in building highly available, fault-tolerant systems that support critical space mission operations If the above sounds like you apply now!

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