Office Administrator

About the role

This role delivers administrative and operational support for Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division in Tucson, Arizona. The position partners with the Executive Assistant and Office Manager to coordinate daily office functions and cross-departmental collaboration. The role supports a dynamic engineering environment focused on space-based optical payloads for government and commercial customers.

Every role in this field shares a few habits: clear communication, structured thinking, and steady follow through. Teams hold regular meetings, review progress, and adjust plans. Success usually depends on how well you work with others, not just how hard you try. Successful professionals in any field share a few habits: they take notes, keep commitments, and communicate in writing. Teams value people who make their work easy to review and build on.

Key facts

What you'll do

Office operations are sustained through administrative and operational support that partners with the Executive Assistant and collaborates across departments.

A company purchasing card is obtained and maintained for authorized transactions. Occasional vendor and catering communications are conducted using a personal cell phone to support operational needs. Travel or off-site support may be required occasionally to fulfill operational responsibilities.

Requirements

A high school diploma or GED is mandatory for professional readiness. At least 2 years of experience in an administrative, office management, or related support role demonstrates foundational capability. Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat is essential for document and data management. An associate or bachelor's degree in business administration, Management, or a related field is preferred for advanced administrative contexts.

Excellent organizational, communication, customer service, and time management skills enable effective multi-priority execution. Professionalism is demonstrated to support productive interactions with employees, executives, visitors, vendors, candidates, and customers. Confidential information is handled with discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment to protect organizational integrity. Independence in work, sound judgment, and cross-departmental collaboration across all organizational levels drive initiative and ownership. Strong attention to detail, accountability, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment sustain operational accuracy. Aptitude for learning new software applications, business systems, and internal processes ensures adaptability to evolving tools. Needs are anticipated, and process improvements are identified proactively to support ongoing operational excellence. Constructive feedback is received, changing priorities are adapted to, and performance is improved within a collaborative team environment to foster continuous development. Experience in aerospace, engineering, manufacturing, or government contracting environments aligns with industry-specific requirements. Office operations, including purchasing, inventory, vendor coordination, travel coordination, expense reporting, budget tracking, and employee event coordination, are managed independently to ensure end-to-end ownership. Company meetings, employee engagement activities, recognition programs, and office events are planned and coordinated to support organizational culture. Enterprise business systems such as Concur, Costpoint, SharePoint, or similar platforms are used to enable integrated workflows.

Practical notes

candidates must meet ITAR-related citizenship or authorization requirements; New Zealand roles require background checks and specific nationalities under export regulations. Typical interview steps

Hiring processes usually combine a screening conversation with one or more interview rounds. Candidates can expect questions about their experience, a scenario or case, and a chance to ask their own questions. Preparation and specific examples from past work carry the most weight. Whatever the role, preparation is visible. Reviewing the company's product, the job description, and your own past work before the conversation is the strongest step.