Senior Principal Software Engineer

Rocket Lab

On-sitePosted July 25, 2026

About the role

Senior Principal Software Engineer – TS/SCI

Rocket Lab is seeking a highly skilled Senior Principal Software Engineer to serve as the Chief Software Engineer for a major constellation program. In this pivotal role you will lead the design, development, and delivery of scalable, reliable, and mission-critical software systems for space-based applications, including flight software, embedded systems, and ground software. You will collaborate with systems teams, software engineers, and stakeholders to ensure mission success. If you have a passion for aerospace and defense and hold an active TS/SCI clearance, this is your opportunity to make a tangible impact on national security and space exploration.

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Rocket Lab

On-sitePosted July 25, 2026

About the role

Senior Principal Software Engineer – TS/SCI

Rocket Lab is seeking a highly skilled Senior Principal Software Engineer to serve as the Chief Software Engineer for a major constellation program. In this pivotal role you will lead the design, development, and delivery of scalable, reliable, and mission-critical software systems for space-based applications, including flight software, embedded systems, and ground software. You will collaborate with systems teams, software engineers, and stakeholders to ensure mission success. If you have a passion for aerospace and defense and hold an active TS/SCI clearance, this is your opportunity to make a tangible impact on national security and space exploration.

What you’ll get to do: - Lead Software Architecture Design: Define end-to-end software architecture for flight and ground systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, security, and mission success. - Develop Flight Software: Design application software for spacecraft operating within Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) such as VxWorks, or embedded Linux, including hardware drivers for spacecraft sensors and actuators such as IMUs, Star Trackers, and Reaction Wheels. - Build Ground Software Systems: Architect and deploy web-based ground software platforms for spacecraft operations, integrating flight and ground systems to support diverse mission profiles. - Test and Validate Systems: Develop unit tests within a Continuous Integration framework and collaborate with hardware-in-the-loop test engin

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What you’ll get to do: - Lead Software Architecture Design: Define end-to-end software architecture for flight and ground systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, security, and mission success. - Develop Flight Software: Design application software for spacecraft operating within Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) such as VxWorks, or embedded Linux, including hardware drivers for spacecraft sensors and actuators such as IMUs, Star Trackers, and Reaction Wheels. - Build Ground Software Systems: Architect and deploy web-based ground software platforms for spacecraft operations, integrating flight and ground systems to support diverse mission profiles. - Test and Validate Systems: Develop unit tests within a Continuous Integration framework and collaborate with hardware-in-the-loop test engin