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.
SPACE SYSTEMS
At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.
Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.
As an Office Administrator based onsite at our Optical Systems location in Tucson, AZ you will have the opportunity to support the day-to-day operations of a dynamic engineering office while partnering with the Executive Assistant & Office Manager and collaborating across multiple departments to create a professional, organized, and welcoming workplace. In this role, you will support office operations, purchasing, travel coordination, expense reporting, facilities, employee engagement activities, and a variety of administrative initiatives that help keep the Tucson site operating efficiently. To be successful in this role, you must be highly organized, proactive, adaptable, customer-focused, and take pride in creating an exceptional workplace experience. The ideal candidate enjoys variety, demonstrates sound judgment, takes ownership of their responsibilities, and consistently looks for opportunities to improve processes, anticipate needs, and support the success of the team. Join a driven team of pioneers relentlessly tackling challenging projects, delivering on the impossible, and making an impact on the future of space!
WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:
- Provide administrative and operational support for the Tucson office while partnering with the Executive Assistant & Office Manager and collaborating across multiple departments to ensure the office operates efficiently.
- Assist with coordinating day-to-day office operations, including conference room scheduling, meetings, interviews, office logistics, and administrative support for leadership and employees.
- Assist with Creating, editing, and maintaining professional business documents, presentations, reports, meeting materials, and confidential records using Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat.
- Manage office purchasing, inventory, supplies, vendor orders, shipping and receiving, mail distribution, and office budget tracking to ensure the workplace remains organized, stocked, and operational.
- Assist with coordination of facilities-related activities, including office equipment repairs, vendor services, workspace readiness, office moves, and partnership with Facilities and IT to support daily operations.
- Coordinate catering and provide administrative support for company meetings, employee engagement activities, recognition events, and office celebrations.
- Assist with domestic and international travel coordination, prepare and reconcile expense reports, and support office purchasing and budget administration using company business systems.
- Build strong working relationships across the organization by providing exceptional customer service and supporting cross-functional projects and operational initiatives.
- Proactively identify opportunities to improve office organization, administrative processes, and operational efficiency while maintaining a professional and welcoming workplace.
- Obtain and maintain a company purchasing card.
- Use personal cell phone for occasional vendor and catering communications.
- Occasional travel or off-site support may be required.
YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
- High school diploma or GED
- 2+ years of experience in an administrative, office management, or related support role.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat.
THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:
- Associate or bachelor's degree in business administration, Management, or a related field.
- Excellent organizational, communication, customer service, and time management skills.
- Demonstrated professionalism and the ability to effectively interact with employees, executives, visitors, vendors, candidates, and customers.
- Demonstrated ability to manage confidential information with discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.
- Proven ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate effectively across multiple departments and all levels of the organization.
- Strong attention to detail, accountability, organizational skills, and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a dynamic work environment.
- Demonstrated aptitude for learning new software applications, business systems, and internal processes quickly.
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative, anticipate needs, and proactively identify opportunities to improve processes and support office operations.
- Demonstrated ability to receive constructive feedback, adapt to changing priorities, and continuously improve performance in a collaborative team environment.
- Experience supporting aerospace, engineering, manufacturing, or government contracting environment.
- Experience independently managing office operations, including purchasing, inventory management, vendor coordination, travel coordination, expense reporting, budget tracking, and employee event coordination.
- Experience planning and coordinating company meetings, employee engagement activities, recognition programs, or office events.
- Experience using enterprise business systems such as Concur, Costpoint, SharePoint, or similar platforms.
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.
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 [email protected].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.
