Team Lead - Data Engineering

Rocket Lab is searching for a Team Lead - Data Engineering to take charge of the data tools, systems, and platforms that enable our launch vehicles, spacecraft, simulations, and ground systems. If you love solving complex engineering problems, building high-reliability software, and leading talented developers this is your next mission.

Our software underpins everything: test and production systems, launch operations, research and development, automation, internal tools, and more. You'll guide a team that shapes how engineers and operators access the information and functionality they need to build and launch world-class space systems.

WHAT YOU'LL LEAD

• A high-performing team of software engineers

• End-to-end software development across infrastructure, storage, ingestion, and presentation of operational and engineering data

• Design, development, testing, and documentation of software used across launch operations, integrated systems testing, simulations, and ground systems

• Architecture, code quality, coding standards, and agile engineering practices

• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering, operations, and mission teams

• Continuous improvement, technical excellence, and a strong culture of ownership

WHAT YOU'LL DELIVER

• Technical vision for the petabyte-scale operational data platform supporting the entire company

• In depth technical contributions supporting engineering, operations, and mission readiness

• Reliable, well-tested, well-documented software

• Smooth deployment, support, and user training

• Clear communication, prioritisation, and stakeholder alignment

• Effective team ceremonies: stand-ups, planning, retros, backlog shaping

• Strategic improvements to software capability and data handling across the business

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Tertiary qualification in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or similar

• 8+ years' experience in software engineering

• Proven team leadership or mentoring experience (essential)

• Strong Python development skills

• Experience with data platform architecture and data management

• Experience with REST APIs, databases, Git, and modern software workflows

• Familiarity with Spark, Pandas/Numpy, ETL processes, or similar tools

• Excellent problem-solving skills and a collaborative, positive mindset

NICE-TO-HAVE EXTRAS

• Agile/Scrum experience

• Data visualisation or analytics experience

• Kubernetes

• C#, Golang, or TypeScript

• Web, networked, or database application development

• UI development

If you're driven by complex challenges, team leadership, and building software that directly supports rockets, spacecraft, and mission operations we want to meet you.