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Practising for the listing Mission Manager. Its requirements are filled in below. When you have an answer you like, paste it with your CV in Career Mirror to see which of the job's skills it shows.

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Mission Manager
ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket 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.

MISSION MANAGER

Based out of one of Rocket Lab sites in North America, Mission Managers work directly with customers from signing of contract through payload integration to launch at either our Auckland, New Zealand or Wallops, Virginia launch site for Rocket Lab’s HASTE program. The ideal candidate is comfortable working with both commercial and government customers as well as frequent domestic and international travel. Prior mission management or mission integration experience required, preferably in support of suborbital and/or hypersonic payloads.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Management of multiple Rocket Lab customer missions, including technical, programmatic, and financial milestones.

• Oversee hands-on payload integration activities, including fit checks, dispenser and launch vehicle integration.

• Lead technical milestone reviews with customers such as mission design or test readiness reviews

• Assists business development with proposal input, lead generation, and technical sales engineering reviews.

• Responsible for development and verification of Launch Vehicle to Payload Spacecraft Interface Control Documentation (ICD).

• In constant contact with customers to answer questions with technical staff as required.

• Represent the company at public events, including conferences, industry forums, outreach and recruiting events.

• Helps lead Mission Integrators in expanding their mission management skillset

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A MISSION MANAGER:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or technical discipline – Mechanical, Electrical or Aerospace degree preferred.

• 5+ years of mission management experience/Technical program management experience

• Hardware integration or project management experience on either launch vehicles or spacecraft projects.

• Ability to travel to launch pads, customer sites, and overseas (e.g. Rocket Labs New Zealand facility/launch site).

• Must be willing and able to obtain a TS/SCI Clearance

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Experience with Suborbital and/or hypersonic payloads

• ITAR - Previous experience with ITAR & establishment of TAA's.

• Previous Mission Management or Mission Integration experience.

• Experience working with complex mechanical systems with your own hands.

• Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings.

• Solid interpersonal and organizational skills, able to assist with closure of sales / customer capture.

• Ability to understand technical constraints relative to payload launch including results from mission specific analysis.

• Solid presentation and technical writing skills.

This 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
Join 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.

Our 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.

Additional 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.

Level 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.

Base Pay Range (CA Only)
$125,300 — $187,850 USD

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.

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Requirements found

Sales Recruiting Project Management Writing Marketing Training

What this posting asks for

Level: Manager — The title says "Manager".

Main responsibilities

Lead technical milestone reviews with customers such as mission design or test readiness reviews

Competencies an interviewer will look for

Technical skill Core
In the posting: “Assists business development with proposal input, lead generation, and technical sales engineering reviews.” · “Bachelor's degree in an engineering or technical discipline – Mechanical, Electrical or Aerospace degree preferred.” · “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 Unite…”
Show it by: Names the tools, languages or systems used and how; Explains a technical choice and its trade-off.
Customer focus Core
In the posting: “Based out of one of Rocket Lab sites in North America, Mission Managers work directly with customers from signing of contract through payload integration to …” · “The ideal candidate is comfortable working with both commercial and government customers as well as frequent domestic and international travel.” · “Management of multiple Rocket Lab customer missions, including technical, programmatic, and financial milestones.”
Show it by: Puts the customer's need in their own words; Shows a result for the customer, not only for the company.
Planning and organisation Core
In the posting: “Solid interpersonal and organizational skills, able to assist with closure of sales / customer capture.” · “Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical pla…” · “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.”
Show it by: Shows how priorities were set when everything was urgent; Mentions deadlines met and how.
Communication Core
In the posting: “Responsible for development and verification of Launch Vehicle to Payload Spacecraft Interface Control Documentation (ICD).” · “Solid presentation and technical writing skills.”
Show it by: Adapts the message to the listener; Gives an example of explaining something clearly in writing or speech.
Ownership and accountability Core
In the posting: “Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s …” · “As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.”
Show it by: Takes a task from start to finish without being chased; Owns a mistake and what was changed after it.
Data and analysis Core
In the posting: “Ability to understand technical constraints relative to payload launch including results from mission specific analysis.” · “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 Unite…”
Show it by: Uses a number to describe the situation or the result; Explains what the data showed and what was done with it.
Teamwork and collaboration Supporting
In the posting: “It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible.”
Show it by: Says what they did inside a team, not only what 'we' did; Shows how a disagreement was handled.
Adaptability and learning Supporting
In the posting: “Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical pla…”
Show it by: Describes learning something new quickly and using it; Shows a change of plan and how they adjusted.

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Built from this posting (8):
Walk me through a piece of work where you used your strongest technical skill. What exactly did you do? From this posting
Describe a time you went out of your way to solve a customer's problem. From this posting
You have three urgent tasks due today and time to finish only two. How do you decide? From this posting
Tell me about a time you had to explain something complex to someone outside your field. From this posting
How have you used sales in your work? Walk me through one real example. From this posting
Tell me about a problem you solved using recruiting. From this posting
Tell me about a time you helped someone on your team get better at their work. From this posting
Describe a time you worked with another team to deliver something. What was your part? From this posting
Tell me about a sale or agreement you are proud of.
Describe a time you handled an upset customer or colleague.
Tell me about a time you had several deadlines at once. How did you decide what to do first?
Give an example of a mistake you caught before it caused a problem.
Tell me about a time you taught someone how to do something.
Describe a time you took the lead without being asked.
Tell me about a time you had to explain something complicated in simple terms.
Describe a process you improved.
Do you have any questions for us?
Why do you want to work here?
Why is there a gap in your employment? Difficult question
Why did you leave your last job? Difficult question
Why are you changing careers? Difficult question
What is your greatest weakness? Difficult question
What are your salary expectations? Difficult question
You seem overqualified for this role. Why do you want it? Difficult question
Improper-question practice: How old are you? / Do you have children? / Where are you from originally?
A customer is angry about a delay you did not cause. What do you do?
How do you keep track of many open customer requests?
Tell me about a time you could not give a customer what they wanted.
You find that the inventory count does not match the system. What do you do?
Tell me about a time a shipment or delivery went wrong.
How do you make sure safety rules are followed on a busy shift?
Two managers ask you to book the same room at the same time. What do you do?
How have you used spreadsheets in your work?
Tell me about a time you had to enter or check a lot of data accurately.
A prospect says your price is too high. How do you respond?
How do you keep your pipeline organised?
Tell me about a technical problem you solved on your own.
You find a bug right before a release. What do you do?
Walk me through how you would check whether a report's numbers are right.