Construction Project Director
Rocket Lab Corporation
Long Beach
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.
FACILITIES
Rocket Lab’s Facilities team is responsible for maintenance, operations, and improvements projects across our locations, making sure that the facilities our teams use every day are well looked after and operating as they should.
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DIRECTOR
The Construction Project Director is a senior leadership role responsible for planning, executing, and delivering large‑scale construction and facilities projects that support aerospace manufacturing, test operations, R&D environments, and mission‑critical infrastructure. This leader oversees all phases of capital construction – from concept and design through commissioning – ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to aerospace‑grade safety and quality standards.
The Director partners closely with Facilities, Manufacturing, Engineering, EHS, Supply Chain, and Executive Leadership to ensure new facilities, expansions, and infrastructure upgrades align with long‑term operational and production goals.
WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:
Strategic Leadership & Planning
- Lead the end‑to‑end strategy for construction and facilities development across aerospace manufacturing and test sites.
- Translate long‑range operational needs into facility and infrastructure roadmaps.
- Develop multi‑year capital plans and ensure alignment with corporate growth objectives.
- Provide executive‑level reporting, risk assessments, and recommendations.
Project Management & Execution
- Oversee all phases of construction projects, including scoping, budgeting, scheduling, permitting, design, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
- Manage multiple concurrent projects ranging from high‑bay manufacturing facilities to clean rooms, test stands, labs, and specialized aerospace infrastructure.
- Ensure strict adherence to aerospace‑grade quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
Capital Budgeting & Financial Oversight
- Own capital project budgets, forecasts, and financial controls.
- Evaluate ROI, payback, and lifecycle cost impacts for major construction investments.
- Lead contractor bidding, negotiation, and contract management.
Cross‑Functional Partnership
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Test Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure facility designs support production throughput, equipment installation, and future scalability.
- Partner with EHS to ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, NFPA, and aerospace‑specific safety requirements.
- Coordinate with local jurisdictions, permitting agencies, and regulatory bodies.
Vendor, Contractor & Stakeholder Management
- Select, negotiate, and manage general contractors, architects, engineers, and specialty vendors.
- Ensure contractor performance meets cost, schedule, and quality expectations.
- Lead weekly construction reviews, site walks, and executive updates.
Risk, Compliance & Safety
- Identify and mitigate construction risks, schedule delays, cost overruns, and scope changes.
- Ensure all construction activities comply with aerospace industry standards, building codes, and environmental regulations.
- Champion a culture of safety across all job sites.
YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
- 12+ years of progressive experience in construction project management and a bachelors degree or equivalent years of work experience (16+ years of total work experience).
- 5+ years leading large‑scale industrial or manufacturing construction projects.
- Proven experience delivering capital projects $20M–$200M+.
- Strong knowledge of aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing environments.
- Expertise in contract negotiation, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management.
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.
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 salary is just one component of our total rewards package at Rocket Lab. Employees may also receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package including: top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Other perks include: Discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.
Eligibility for benefits may vary based on employment status, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role. Benefit programs are subject to change at the company’s discretion.
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.
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