Senior Software Engineer I​/II - AI Engineering

Littleton, CO

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. Our rockets and satellites enable scientific exploration, Earth observation, climate‑change missions, national security, and new technology demonstrations worldwide.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most highly launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit. We are developing Neutron, our upcoming medium‑lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. The Space Systems business designs and builds a wide range of satellites, payloads, and components, including spacecraft selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets – we’re building the future of space. The Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads, to subsystems such as solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, from interplanetary exploration and in‑space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. We partner with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force on missions to the Moon and Mars.

We are looking for a driven Senior Software Engineer I or II to join our AI Engineering team based out of Littleton, CO. You will play a pivotal role in developing AI‑driven tools and applications, including those leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) and advanced machine learning techniques. This role offers the opportunity to work on innovative projects that integrate AI applications to enhance aerospace systems, improving simulation accuracy, decision‑making, and automation.

You’ll be part of a collaborative team, contributing to all phases of AI‑driven software development—from requirements definition and design to coding, testing, and deployment. Our projects focus on applying AI and machine learning to solve complex aerospace challenges.

• Build AI‑driven applications and integrate LLMs to enhance simulation accuracy, decision‑making, and automation.
• Develop and deploy machine learning models using frameworks such as Tensor Flow or PyTorch.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to identify opportunities for AI integration into aerospace systems.
• Optimize AI applications for performance, scalability, and reliability in large‑scale simulations and data processing.
• Conduct research and development to apply LLMs for aerospace‑specific use cases, such as simulation, predictive modeling, or automated system configuration.
• Participate in design reviews (e.g., PDR, CDR) and contribute to the refinement of system requirements and technical specifications.
• Conduct code reviews to ensure adherence to company coding standards and best practices.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in software development, with a focus on AI applications or machine learning.
• Familiarity with machine learning frameworks (e.g., Tensor Flow, PyTorch) and integrating ML models into software systems.
• Experience working with LLMs and AI applications for natural language processing, automation, or decision support.
• Proficiency in C#/.NET and Angular (or similar frontend frameworks such as React or Vue).
• Strong understanding of relational databases (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite).
• Solid grasp of object‑oriented programming principles and design patterns.
• U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of professional experience in software development, with a focus on AI applications or machine learning.
• Familiarity with machine learning frameworks…