Rocket Lab

Construction Project Director

Rocket Lab$120K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years in construction project management; bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years in large-scale industrial or manufacturing construction projects.
  • Experience delivering capital projects valued between $20M-$200M+.
  • Strong background in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing environments.
  • Skilled in contract negotiation, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management.

Responsibilities

  • Lead construction and facilities development strategy for aerospace projects.
  • Translate operational needs into infrastructure roadmaps.
  • Develop multi-year capital plans aligned with corporate objectives.
  • Oversee all phases of construction projects including scoping, budgeting, and commissioning.
  • Manage multiple concurrent projects across different facility types.
  • Own capital project budgets and lead contractor bid negotiations.
  • Collaborate to ensure facility designs meet operational requirements.

Benefits

  • Collaborative work environment emphasizing teamwork and innovation.
  • Opportunities for professional growth in the aerospace industry.
  • Engagement in mission-driven projects aimed at improving life on Earth.
  • Exposure to cutting-edge aerospace technology and facilities.
  • Commitment to safety and compliance with industry standards.
Full Job Description
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.

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:

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is a private American aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider. The company was founded in 2006 by New Zealander Peter Beck. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket is designed to launch small payloads of up to 300 kg into low Earth orbit. The company has launched several successful missions and has contracts with NASA and other organizations. Rocket Lab has raised over $200 million in funding and has offices in the United States and New Zealand.
Learn more about Rocket Lab
Size
500 employees
Market Cap
$1.6 billion
Industry
Founded
2006
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Rocket Lab

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Construction Project Director jobs: