Director, IT Infrastructure

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is a pioneering end-to-end space company creating rockets, spacecraft, and essential subsystems that connect and protect the world while pushing humanity's reach towards the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The company emphasizes rapid innovation, tangible hardware development, and establishing the extraordinary as routine.

IT Team Overview

The IT department at Rocket Lab is critical in enabling global teams to access data and operate across complex computing systems, networks, and devices. The team is composed of adaptable problem solvers thriving in a fast-paced setting while supporting proprietary platforms across functions including finance and launch operations.

Role Summary: Director, IT Infrastructure

Located onsite at either Long Beach, CA or Auckland, NZ, and reporting directly to the CIO, this leadership role involves designing and steering IT support strategies, processes, and procedures to consistently deliver scalable, dependable IT solutions aligned with Rocket Lab's growing business demands. The Director ensures efficient IT service delivery while upholding a high standard of security and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Building and leading a high-performing global team of IT engineers focused on enabling engineering teams to design and produce cutting-edge technology products.
• Providing leadership in computing, storage, networking, operating systems, and DevOps technologies to support Rocket Lab's dynamic engineering initiatives in rocket and satellite development.
• Coordinating IT infrastructure priorities alongside Space Systems and Launch Operations business leaders to fulfill aggressive company objectives.
• Establishing top-tier management processes for global infrastructure services across multiple Rocket Lab sites, managing both on-premises and cloud resources to ensure high availability and uptime.
• Maintaining infrastructure equipment to meet stringent security and regulatory compliance standards.
• Developing strategic vendor relationships and negotiating favorable IT hardware and software procurement agreements.
• Designing strategies for a 24x7 global support framework.
• Expected to travel domestically and internationally up to 30% to support worldwide IT infrastructure operations.

Candidate Qualifications

• Over 12 years of progressive experience managing IT infrastructure encompassing operations, data centers, virtualization, O365, networking, support, and security domains.
• Proven IT leadership within globally distributed organizations.
• Background in high-technology, engineering, and manufacturing sectors.
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related discipline.
• US citizenship required due to program regulations.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience managing 24/7 high-availability environments combining cloud services (AWS, Azure) and on-premise infrastructure.
• Technical expertise with Windows, Linux, VMware, iSeries platforms, networking components, SAN, switches, firewalls, WiFi, and access points.
• Familiarity with mergers and acquisitions processes including due diligence, integration planning, and execution with IT implications.
• Prior experience working in rapidly expanding organizations.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Role may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer use, and occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production zones.

Company Culture and Expectations

Rocket Lab thrives on a mission-driven workforce determined to unlock space potential to benefit life on Earth. Employees are expected to demonstrate hard work, innovation, teamwork, resilience, and a focus on delivery under tight deadlines. The culture values collaboration, humility, and hands-on problem-solving.

Important Regulatory and Employment Details

For US-based applicants: Compliance with U.S. Government ITAR regulations mandates U.S. citizenship or legal status permitting authorized access. Reasonable accommodations for disability-related application/interview processes are available.

For New Zealand-based applicants: Mandatory background and nationality checks due to ITAR compliance. Eligibility may depend on citizenship from specified countries including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, EU members, NATO countries, and limitations apply regarding dual nationality.

Rocket Lab is committed to equal employment opportunity and prohibits discrimination on all legally protected characteristics in all employment terms.