Senior Software Engineer - Data Engineering

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.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Every rocket and spacecraft we build generates huge amounts of data, from manufacturing and test to R&D and day-to-day operations. Our Operational Data team helps Rocket Lab put that data to work. The team sits between data collection and data exploitation and builds the services, tools and pipelines that turn raw data into real value across the business.

Based in Auckland, NZ, the Senior Software Engineer – Data Engineering will design, build and deploy the APIs, services, data pipelines and tools that help teams across Rocket Lab index, retrieve, visualise and act on their data. The role is centred on back-end software engineering, with APIs and services at its core.

This is a senior role with real influence. You'll approve code reviews and architecture designs, help set the team's technical standards, and mentor more junior engineers. You'll also be trusted to step in as deputy for the Data Engineering Team Lead when needed.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Design and develop APIs, services and tools that support data indexing, retrieval, visualisation and process automation.
• Build and maintain data pipelines for engineering and reporting purposes.
• Develop new software and maintain existing software and tooling, ensuring it is well tested and documented to approved standards.
• Review and approve merge requests and software architecture designs, and help set the team's technical standards.
• Develop, review and approve software requirements, and lead trade studies to support technical decisions.
• Refine and prioritise the product backlog, and facilitate agile activities such as stand-ups, retrospectives and sprint planning.
• Work with stakeholders to demonstrate, deploy and support operational software, and train the people who use it.
• Coach and mentor more junior engineers.

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• A tertiary qualification in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or a similar field, or a demonstrated equivalent level of knowledge.
• 5+ years' experience in a software engineering discipline.
• Strong Python development experience, including designing and building REST APIs and services.
• Experience with data tools such as Pandas and NumPy, as well as ETL pipelines and SQL.
• Strong database knowledge, including designing and working with relational databases.
• Experience with CI/CD, containerisation, Git and issue trackers such as Jira or Redmine.