Senior Ground Software Engineer I

About the role

It supports internal leadership, board of directors, and investors through critical operational deliverables.

Software engineers turn product ideas into working code. Engineers work in small teams, review each other's work, and ship in small batches. Most teams follow agile practices such as sprints and daily standups. Engineers also write tests, fix bugs, and improve performance. The field values clear communication as much as technical skill. Engineers spend part of every week on planning, code review, and debugging, not just writing new code. The ability to explain a technical decision in plain words separates strong engineers from the rest.

Key facts

What you'll do

Web-based software architecture for spacecraft operations is developed and evolved to enable mission control and operational workflows.

The Rocket Lab Ground Data System is deployed and configured to support Space Systems operations and mission readiness.

Monitoring and alerting are established to detect system degradation and outages, ensuring high availability for ground operations.

Ground systems issues are identified, and technical insight is provided to resolve problems affecting spacecraft and mission support.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in engineering or other technical discipline is required as a baseline qualification.

Relevant work experience developing software in Python is brought for 5+ years to build ground software components.

Experience in cloud engineering is contributed for 2-5 years to design and deploy scalable solutions.

Web-based software applications are architected for mission-critical environments.

An Active Secret Clearance is maintained to meet export control and security requirements for space systems work.

Nice to have

Full-stack software development experience spans backend Python and/or Golang, frontend Typescript and/or Javascript (Angular or React), and database platforms such as InfluxDB, PostgreSQL, or equivalent.

Python web experience with frameworks such as FastAPI or equivalent is used to deliver services for ground systems.

Micro-service architectures are designed and implemented to support scalable ground software and mission operations.

Complete system development efforts are led with a team to deliver integrated ground solutions.

Clear, well-tested, and well-documented software is written to ensure maintainability and reliability.

Satellite, spacecraft, constellation, and launch vehicle mission operations are supported with domain-relevant context.

Database design and implementation skills are applied for data models and storage needs.

Git or other version control systems are used to manage code and configurations.

SQL is written for data access and integration within ground software components.

Ticketing systems like Jira are used to track issues and manage workflows.

Kubernetes orchestration is used to manage containerized ground software services.

Full-stack and web development is practiced using NodeJS, Angular, TypeScript, or equivalent tools.

Aerospace industry practices and CCSDS recommended standards, including Space Packet Protocol and COP-1, are understood.

CompTIA Security + is obtained for foundational security knowledge in space systems environments.

Disaster recovery plans and backup solutions are implemented in the cloud to ensure continuity.

Cloud costs are optimized and budgets are managed effectively to support ground system operations.

Practical notes

U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or equivalent authorization is required to conform to ITAR export regulations for this role.

Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

This role uses tools such as Python, cloud platforms, web frameworks, Kubernetes, and version control to develop ground software.