Principal Spacecraft GNC Engineer - Secret Clearance
About The Position
Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team builds spacecraft, payloads, and the components and subsystems that enable space missions. Based at the company’s global headquarters in Long Beach, California, the Principal Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer leads GNC and attitude determination and control system (ADCS) development for Rocket Lab’s diverse spacecraft fleet. The role requires strong knowledge of spacecraft GNC concepts and applications and involvement throughout the engineering lifecycle, including spacecraft concepts and algorithms, flight software implementation, subsystem requirements, detailed GNC design, subsystem integration and test, and vehicle integration and test. The engineer plans and maintains development schedules in support of the Space Systems Software organization and collaborates with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software teams. The position also involves direct customer interaction to support mission success and coordination with teams in Denver, Colorado, and New Zealand.
Requirements
- B.S. degree and 12 or more years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS.
- Active Secret clearance, with the ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance.
- Prior experience directly interfacing with commercial or government aerospace customers.
- U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
Nice To Haves
- M.S. or Ph.D.
- Two or more years of RPOD design and operations experience.
- Active TS/SCI clearance.
- Experience with Jira planning and workflow.
- Prior experience mentoring a team of younger engineers.
- Hands-on experience with IMUs, reaction wheels, star trackers, gyroscopes, and other GNC hardware.
- Experience developing blended attitude solutions from a variety of sensor data.
- Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and verifying flight software.
- Demonstrated experience with spacecraft on-orbit operations and anomaly resolution.
- Prior experience leading a team across a project lifecycle.
- Prior experience working on multiple projects simultaneously and determining team priorities.
- Experience with GNC-related business development or conceptual design work.
Responsibilities
- Mentor a team responsible for GNC design, modeling, and analysis for spacecraft and missions including LEO, MEO, GEO, lunar, interplanetary, reentry, and RPOD missions.
- Design flight software, algorithms, and simulation products.
- Develop spacecraft autonomy tools for constellation management.
- Select GNC components and design GNC subsystems.
- Develop and execute test processes.
- Define fault detection and response.
- Perform hardware-in-the-loop and Monte Carlo simulation.
- Integrate flight and simulation software with modern analysis, test, and operations tools.
- Support internal and external design reviews.
- Work with department leads and program managers to plan and maintain team schedules and milestones, and report technical status.
- Coordinate with teams in Denver, Colorado, and New Zealand.
- Plan and maintain development schedules to support program and product execution.
- Work with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software teams, and interact directly with customers.
- Contribute across the engineering lifecycle, from spacecraft concept and algorithm development through software implementation, requirements, design, and subsystem and vehicle integration and test.
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 company HSA contribution.
- Dental coverage.
- Vision coverage.
- Paid vacation and sick time.
- 11 paid holidays.
- Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
- Paid parental leave.
- Disability insurance.
- 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
