Job brief: Principal Engineer - TS/SCI Clearance

What JoRoute checked · Checked by JoRoute

• Listed on Rocket Lab's own job board. JoRoute does not take listings from job ads or recruiters.
• First seen by JoRoute 2026-11-04 (3 days ago); last confirmed on the board 2026-11-07.
• The apply link opens job-boards.greenhouse.io, the address Rocket Lab's board gives for this job.
• No other listing with this title and place on this board in the last 90 days.
• No layoff notices (WARN) under this name in the state files JoRoute reads.

What the listing says · Employer's own words, not checked

• Pay: $173,000 to $260,000 a year
• Job type: Not stated
• Where: Long Beach, CA · RL Headquarters
• Posted: 2026-10-28

What the job asks · Employer's own words, not checked

Level: Lead / staff. The title says "Principal".

Must have

• PRINCIPAL ENGINEER - TS/SCI CLEARANCE
• You will support the Space Systems Chief Engineer, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.
• System and subsystem requirement verification techniques
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements

Main duties

• Test methods and data analysis
• Assist or lead system and subsystem architectural developments for existing missions
• Assist with program and product management

Lines copied from the posting, not rewritten. "Preferred" or "nice to have" items are not listed as must-haves.

How it compares · Compared by JoRoute from listings

• Typical listed pay for engineer jobs in Long Beach, CA: $164k a year (146 listings, 3 employers). This listing is 32% higher.
• Across Rocket Lab's 452 open listings, 24% of those with a posting date were first posted more than 60 days ago. How Rocket Lab hires

What nobody outside the employer knows · Not known

• Whether the role is already filled or on hold: employers often leave listings up.
• How many people applied, and who reads the applications.
• Where in the published range an offer would land.

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1. Which of the listed places is this role based in?
2. What are the interview steps, and when should I expect to hear back?

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Next steps

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