{"id":3035050,"url":"https://alion.io/job/rocket-lab-software-engineer-ii-production-automation","title":"Software Engineer II - Production Automation","company":{"id":684473,"name":"Rocket Lab","domain":"rocketlab.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/rocketlab-2","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":80,"open_postings":85,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.8,"repost_share":0.024,"time_to_fill_p50_days":39,"computed_at":"2026-10-23T05:54:15Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Long Beach, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":102400,"max":128000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":128000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":true},{"name":"Linux","optional":true},{"name":"PyQt","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true},{"name":"Qt","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-21T16:41:52Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-21","last_verified_at":"2026-10-24T01:31:25Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":2,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":2},"description":"ABOUT ROCKET LAB\nRocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.\nSOFTWARE ENGINEER II - PRODUCTION AUTOMATION\nBased onsite at our global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Software Engineer will join the Production Automation team where you will work with a supportive, international team of software developers with diverse engineering backgrounds. A typical day consists of collaborating with avionics and manufacturing engineers to develop, improve and support software-applications to functionally test spacecraft-components and systems for our launch vehicles (Electron, Neutron) and Space-System programs. You will work closely with our stakeholders during both the development phase of new components and when those components move to a production line. Our team is involved in the test rig bring-up process and rig maintenance and assists the engineering teams with evaluating test result data.\nWe're after developers willing to take on new challenges. Even if you don't have our tech stack fully covered, we'd still want to hear from you!\nWHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:\nDevelop, improve, and support software applications for production automation, including avionics production acceptance testing, vehicle component acceptance testing, and vehicle integrated systems testing.\nIntegrate computerized production systems and support software applications within a production environment.\nDevelop software and unit tests according to bug-fix and feature requests.\nCreate and maintain documentation for the operation of software products.\nParticipate in code reviews and facilitate software architecture meetings.\nDocument software architecture designs and refine product backlog items.\nFacilitate and participate in agile activities (e.g., stand-ups, retrospectives) and keep tickets up-to-date.\nActively interact with stakeholders to investigate issues, understand requirements, and drive solutions.\nDeploy operational software and ensure adherence to business processes.\nTake ownership of tasks and projects, delivering results and driving solutions.\nSupport cross-functional teams and proactively acquire necessary knowledge to assist other groups.\nDomestic and international travel may be required.\nPerform additional duties as reasonably required.\nYOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:\nBachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Software/Electrical/Mechatronics Engineering (4+ years of work experience will be considered in lieu of a degree).\n2+ years of experience within a software engineering related discipline.\nExperience working with source control and issue trackers (e.g., git, jira, redmine).\nTHESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:\nExperience with Python, C++, or similar programming languages.\nExperience working in a Linux development environment.\nExperience working with different interfaces/protocols (e.g., TCP/UDP, serial, CAN).\nExperience with embedded systems and basic electronics.\nUI/UX development experience.\nExperience in a manufacturing or production environment.\nExperience using Qt or PyQt.\nAbility to apply and identify engineering and industry concepts and theories.\nAble to research and provide solutions to engineering challenges.\nThis position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.\nJoin one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.\nOur comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.\nAdditional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.\nLevel and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.\nBase Pay Range (CA Only)\n$102,400—$128,000 USD\nWHAT TO EXPECT \nWe’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. \nImportant information:\nFOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:\nTo 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.\nRocket 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.\nApplicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at . 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.\nFOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:\nFor 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. \nUnder 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":7870,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Gym membership","Life insurance","Parental leave","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Launch Services","Satellite Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-21T21:11:19Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 9 · green card filings: 1","filings_12m":9,"filings_prev_12m":4,"green_card_filings_12m":1,"median_offered_wage_usd":177500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-15T11:24:14+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":1}],"liveness":{"score":63,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.632,"p_room":1,"age_days":1,"expected_fill_days":39,"reasons":["conf:2","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-23T05:54:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":128000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/rocket-lab-software-engineer-ii-production-automation","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/rocket-lab-software-engineer-ii-production-automation.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-24T04:07:37Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":6470,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-25T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":684473},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=684473"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Frocket-lab-software-engineer-ii-production-automation"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Frocket-lab-software-engineer-ii-production-automation"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Frocket-lab-software-engineer-ii-production-automation"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/rocket-lab-software-engineer-ii-production-automation\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Frocket-lab-software-engineer-ii-production-automation"}]}