Senior Proposal Manager I

About this role

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.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Rocket Lab’s Business Development team is responsible for connecting customers across government and commercial sectors with our industry leading mission solutions spanning launch and space systems. They work closely with new and existing customers to understand their needs and develop tailored solutions to deliver their missions. Building and maintaining relationships with customers and internally with engineering and operations teams is at the core of our Business Development team. They have their fingers on the pulse of the space industry and are driven to deliver results for our customers and our business.

SENIOR PROPOSAL MANAGER I

Based out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach CA, the Senior Proposal Manager plays a key role in creating compliant and compelling business proposals that win new business with US and international customers. This role primarily supports the Space Systems Business Development team, with a specific focus on satellite opportunities.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• Develop and execute proposal plans, including analyzing RFPs, creating outlines, and building compliance matrices.

• Collaborate with the Business Development Manager and/or Director to craft winning proposal strategies and develop compelling messaging.

• Write and manage compliant, high-quality proposals that clearly address RFP requirements.

• Take responsibility for specific volumes of proposals, ensuring they are well-written, compliant, and align with the overall strategy.

• Lead proposal kick-off meetings and facilitate regular check-ins with contributors to ensure timelines are met.

• Coordinate with internal teams (such as engineering, finance, legal) to gather and refine content for proposals.

• Create and manage proposal templates, reusable content, and visual elements (charts, tables, and infographics).

• Conduct quality assurance reviews for grammar, consistency, and formatting to ensure polished submissions.

• Oversee final production and submission, ensuring proposals are delivered on time and meet customer requirements.

• Document lessons learned, and recommend process improvements for future proposals.

• Support travel as needed (~10%).

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in technical, management, or business discipline.

• 5+ years of experience in proposal management.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

• Demonstrated success leading proposals with values greater than $100 million.

• Technical writing expertise, with a proven ability to translate complex technical information into clear, concise, and persuasive language tailored to different audiences.

• Project management experience, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines while ensuring high-quality deliverables.

• Experience leading cross-functional teams to achieve proposal objectives.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Active U.S. security clearance.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.

• Experience using tools such as Salesforce and SharePoint.

• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks.

• Background in organizational effectiveness and operations, implementing best practices.

• Experience with proposal frameworks and methodologies.

• Familiarity with industry-standard proposal processes such as Shipley or APMP.

• Familiarity with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

• Aerospace or defense industry experience, with a strong understanding of the competitive landscape, customer base, and technology trends in the aerospace or satellite industry.

• Ability to effectively present proposal concepts and strategies to internal stakeholders, including team members and leadership.

• Proven ability to build relationships with internal stakeholders, including engineers, leadership, and cross-functional team members.

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.
Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.

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…