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If the fight was taking place in dim lighting so that everyone with normal vision incurred a 20% miss chance, he could attempt to use stealth and then sneak attack. If he was able to use cover to hide, then he could use stealth.
Standing out in the middle of the open during a fight? Not so much. Flanking would allow him to sneak though.
If people are observing you using any of their senses (but typically sight), you can't use Stealth. Against most creatures, finding cover or concealment allows you to use Stealth. If your observers are momentarily distracted (such as by a Bluff check), you can attempt to use Stealth. While the others turn their attention from you, you can attempt a Stealth check if you can get to an unobserved place of some kind. This check, however, is made at a –10 penalty because you have to move fast.
The rogue's attack deals extra damage anytime her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the rogue flanks her target.
Concealment and Stealth Checks: You can use concealment to make a Stealth check. Without concealment, you usually need cover to make a Stealth check.
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I just noticed you mentioned he was trying to snipe a target.
1) He has to actually meet the conditions to be able to use stealth in the middle of a fight. (Bluff to create a distraction, dim lighting granting concealment, or use of cover)
2) Use stealth to hide.
3) Must be within 30 feet to get the sneak attack damage.
4) Attempt to stealth again with a -20 to remain hidden and set yourself up for another ranged sneak attack.
Sniping: If you've already successfully used Stealth at least 10 feet from your target, you can make one ranged attack and then immediately use Stealth again. You take a –20 penalty on your Stealth check to maintain your obscured location.
Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.
In my experience the simplest "every day way" to get your sneak attack damage in the middle of a fight is to set yourself up for flanking. It requires some concerted effort on the part of the party, but is a good albeit mundane way to get that precision damage in. You can't flank with a ranged weapon though (you don't threaten areas with a ranged weapon), so that might not work in your particular rogue's case.
The rules on Flanking are on page 196 (diagram) and 197 (rules) of the Core Rulebook if you needed any clarification on the how-what-why of Flanking.
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I think the whole point is that most people don't fully understand how to get a ranged sneak attack from Stealth once the surprise or first round of combat is over.
No matter what the circumstances you're going to need to successfully use the Stealth skill. In combat you'll need to either distract your foes using Bluff or reach some kind of hard cover to break their line of sight to you. Once you can move around unobserved you can try to manuever yourself into postion to snipe, generally within 30 feet of a target who can't see you and isn't concealed in any way.
Now there are means to extend the range and use sneak attack against concealed targets, but those aren't the norm. Stick to the basics and add on to the complexity as you get better at sneaking around the battlefield. Hopefully your GM makes the encounter area dynamic so you have things to hide behind... cause no one enjoys an open 30 x 30 room (except the Blaster).
--Vrocket Launcher Tag