Flight Dynamics Engineer II

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company that builds rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. Its Space Systems team develops spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions including interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security and defense initiatives. Based at Rocket Lab’s headquarters in Long Beach, California, the Flight Dynamics Engineer II performs tracking, navigation, maneuver, trajectory planning, and collision avoidance design and operations for Earth-orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions. The role works with multidisciplinary engineering subject matter experts and addresses complex problems, sometimes under time-critical conditions. Responsibilities also include supporting real-time mission operations and contributing to in-house simulation tools and flight dynamics infrastructure. The position offers a base pay range of $115,000–$172,000 USD for California. Level and base salary are determined case by case based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Total compensation includes company stock. Benefits include an Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount, medical plans, 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) plan with company match. Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, fitness and gym benefits, snacks and beverages, employee discounts, and other perks.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Space Systems, or Software Engineering, or an equivalent Engineering or Applied Physics degree.
At least 2 years of experience in mission design and flight dynamics.
Understanding of orbital mechanics and orbit determination theory.
Mission analysis experience with STK, Astrogator, GMAT, Monte, Copernicus, or equivalent.
Python software development experience.
Git version control or an equivalent version control system.
Jira software project management or equivalent.
Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.
U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
Active TS/SCI clearance.
Monte Carlo numerical simulation experience.
Orbit determination analysis with ODTK, Orekit, or equivalent.
Team and/or software project management experience.
Ability to work through complex problems under time pressure.
Ability to prioritize tasks in consultation with a range of stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Develop and analyze launch vehicle and spacecraft trajectories, including ascent, orbit insertion, and orbital maneuvers.
Perform orbital propagation, rendezvous planning, and station-keeping analysis for spacecraft operations.
Support mission design, including launch window analysis, delta-V budgets, and contingency planning.
Interface with flight software and GNC teams to validate and optimize guidance profiles.
Generate and deliver trajectory data products and flight dynamics support for mission readiness reviews.
Contribute to the development of in-house simulation tools and flight dynamics infrastructure.
Support real-time mission operations, including anomaly response and post-launch data analysis.

Benefits

Company stock as part of total compensation.
Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
Medical plans, including 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.
401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Subsidized EV charging.
Onsite fitness centers where available.
Discounted gym memberships.
Complimentary snacks and beverages.
50% employee discount on the company merchandise store.
Other employee discounts.