Senior Ground Software Engineer

SPACE SYSTEMS

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 GROUND SOFTWARE ENGINEER

As a Senior Ground Software Engineer based at Rocket Lab’s site in Littleton, CO, you will be responsible for developing cutting-edge spacecraft ground software for our various Space Systems missions, and for providing ground system development and support for internal and external customers. You will support the Space Systems organization, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

    • Develop and evolve web-based software architecture for spacecraft operations
    • Work closely with flight software developers, operations personnel, and systems engineers to understand requirements and functional needs
    • Deploy and configure the Rocket Lab Ground Data System
    • Establish monitoring and alerting to detect system degradation and outages
    • Identify ground systems issues and provide technical insight for resolution

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline
• 5 years of relevant work experience developing software
• 5 years of relevant work experience developing in Python
• Experience architecting web-based software applications 

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Full-stack software development experience, including: 
          ○ Backend – Python and/or Golang
          ○ Frontend – Typescript and/or Javascript (Angular or React)
          ○ Database – InfluxDB, PostgreSQL, or equivalent
• Experience with Python web experience (FastAPI or equivalent)
• Experience with micro-service architectures
• Experience leading complete system development efforts with a team
• Ability to write clear, well-tested, and well-documented software
• Experience supporting satellite, spacecraft, constellation, and/or launch vehicle mission operations
• Familiarity with database design and implementation
• Experience using Git or other version control systems
• Experience with SQL
• Experience with ticketing systems like Jira, etc.
• Experience with Kubernetes orchestration
• Experience with Oauth authentication flows
• Experience in full-stack and/or web development (NodeJS, Angular, TypeScript, or equivalent)
• Experience in the aerospace industry 
• Experience in CCSDS recommended standards, including Space Packet Protocol and COP-1

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 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