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Software & IT

Software Build Engineer

Rocket Lab logoRocket Lab~$107k–$165k/yrtypicalAuckland, NZPosted 1mo ago

About the 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.

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ABOUT ENGINEERING AT ROCKET LAB

Engineering is the heart of Rocket Lab. We build world-class rockets and spacecraft and we launch them, often.

Every launch is a symphony multiple teams, multiple sites, and dozens of complex systems all playing in time. Software conducts it. At Rocket Lab, our Terrestrial Software team builds and maintains the products behind flight vehicles, spacecraft, launch operations, and production, and we're looking for a Software Build and Automation Engineer to own how all of it gets built, tested, and delivered.

It's hands-on, fast-paced problem solving where rapid innovation meets the highest reliability standards and the pipelines you build put hardware in the sky.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO

  • Build, document, and support the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery pipelines behind our flight vehicle, spacecraft, operations, and production software, working to direction from your team lead
  • Support the infrastructure used for stack-test and launch operations
  • Spot manual processes and automate them for software teams and beyond
  • Help maintain our Docker and Kubernetes environments, and work with IT on infrastructure needs
  • Write and maintain software supporting test and mission operations
  • Document, review code, size tickets, and work as part of an agile team

Some days you're deep in build logs. Others you're sitting with avionics, operations, or production, working out what they need. Both are good days. You'll have an experienced team around you to learn from, and nothing you build here stays theoretical, it's in the loop when we launch.

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS

  • 3+ years in software development, focused on build, CI, and deployment
  • Coding experience in a compiled language (C#, C++ or similar)
  • Git, plus Linux and Windows system administration
  • A build system such as TeamCity, Jenkins, GitLab CI, Travis CI or TFS CI
  • Build tooling like make, cmake or automake
  • Experience building and deploying embedded and desktop software
  • Familiarity with Jira, Redmine or another issue tracker

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

  • A degree in software engineering, computer science, or a related field
  • Scrum experience
  • Docker or Kubernetes
  • Web and cloud software build and deployment
  • Network security
  • Project management
  • Provisioning systems such as Chef, Puppet, Salt or Terraform

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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.

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 g.biow@rocketlabusa.com. 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.

Copied from the listing Rocket Lab published, verified 29 Oct 2026.

The application

Your details and CV, then 11 questions.

Have readyCVCover letter (optional)
  1. 1.
    Rocket Lab is required to comply with US export compliance laws & regulations including the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These regulations restrict whom Rocket Lab can shaYes or no
  2. 2.
    What is your country of birth?Short answer
  3. 3.
    What citizenships do you hold? Select all that apply.Pick any (198 options)
  4. 4.
    What citizenships have you previously held? Select all that apply.Pick any (199 options)
  5. 5.
    Are you legally entitled to work in New Zealand?Pick one
  6. 6.
    If you currently hold a visa or working holiday visa, please provide your visa details. (i.e. visa expiry dates/conditions)Short answer
  7. 7.
    Highest level of education/qualification completed.Pick one (7 options)
  8. 8.
    What are your salary expectations?Short answer
  9. 9.
    Do you have any previous military experience?Yes or no
  10. 10.
    Do you have any previous or pending criminal convictions or charges (including drink or drug-related driving convictions) but not including any concealed under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act?Yes or no
  11. 11.
    Any offer of employment with Rocket Lab is contingent on a successful criminal background check and successful reference checks. Please indicate below if you can meet these hiring requirements.Yes or no

Taken from the application form Rocket Lab runs, verified 29 Oct 2026.

About Rocket Lab

Builds the Electron and Neutron launch vehicles and spacecraft and their components.

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