Senior DevOps Engineer

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 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 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 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. 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.

Based out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Dev Ops Engineer I is responsible for developing and maintaining the software infrastructure required for software development testing, flat sat testing, and hardware in the loop (HITL) testing. You will support the FSW Team Lead, HITL Lead and Space Systems organization, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

• Design, develop, deploy, and maintain the infrastructure used to test top of the line spacecraft
• Develop tools to automate FSW and HITL testing
• Work hands‑on with space and test hardware to develop and debug test infrastructure
• Work in a cross‑disciplined team to build the tools to verify spacecraft functionality and performance

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or other technical discipline
• 5+ years of Dev Ops or Build & Release Engineering experience
• Experience with Python development, Git, and Jira
• Experience with CI/CD
• Experience with Kubernetes
• Experience with C, C++, and/or C#
• U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements

• Experience with Team City
• Ability to write clear and concise software documentation
• Experience with Linux
• Experience with data processing and visualization
• Experience with cloud computing
• Demonstrated experience in full‑stack web development
• Experience with databases and networking
• Experience with distributed applications
• Experience with Ansible or similar

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus
• Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes and moderate levels of noise

$120,000—$150,000 USD

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…