WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO

• Serve as the Quality Engineering representative for software development activities supporting space payloads, ground systems, and hardware-integrated products
• Support end-to-end software lifecycle quality across requirements, design, development, integration, verification, release, and sustainment
• Review and assess software requirements for clarity, testability, traceability, and alignment with system and customer requirements
• Participate in and provide quality input to software design reviews, test readiness reviews, and acceptance reviews
• Review and approve software quality artifacts, including design documentation, test plans, test procedures, test results, and release records
• Support software verification and validation activities, ensuring adequate coverage, risk mitigation, and objective evidence
• Support integration, environmental, and system-level test campaigns, including on-site participation as required to support mission assurance and anomaly resolution
• Identify, document, and support resolution of software nonconformances, defects, and escapes, including root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Ensure software-related quality, mission assurance, and regulatory requirements are properly flowed down from customer contracts and internal standards into implementation
• Support supplier and subcontractor software quality oversight, including review of deliverables, audits, and quality flow-down requirements
• Support software configuration management and release control, including baseline integrity, change control, and regression awareness
• Develop, maintain, and analyze Power BI dashboards to monitor software quality metrics such as defect trends, escape rates, test status, and corrective action closure
• Support and leverage Power Apps and SharePoint-based tools to standardize and automate software quality workflows, reviews, approvals, and data collection
• Support internal, external, customer, and regulatory audits related to software quality (e.g., AS9100, customer audits)
• Promote a risk-aware, quality-first culture across software and integrated product teams
• Travel as required to support test campaigns, supplier oversight, audits, and key program milestones
• Tasks as identify critical for the mission

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Quality, or a related technical discipline
• 8+ years of experience performing Software Quality Engineering or quality oversight for mission-critical or safety-critical systems

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Quality, or Business Management
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or equivalent certification
• Experience supporting spaceflight software, payload control software, or mission ground systems
• Familiarity with Agile, Waterfall, or V-Model development in regulated environments
• Experience with software configuration management, vision control, and release governance
• Familiarity with ITAR/export compliance requirements
• Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt) certification

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
• WHAT TO EXPECT
• 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 innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

Important information

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.
• Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
• Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY

• For security reasons background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
• Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.