Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is hiring a Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I for its Space Systems team, based at the company’s headquarters in Long Beach, California. The engineer will perform tracking, navigation, maneuver, trajectory planning, and collision-avoidance design and operations for Earth-orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions. The role works with subject matter experts across Systems, Ground Software, Electrical, Avionics, Flight Software, Thermal, Propulsion, and GNC engineering disciplines, and requires solving complex problems, sometimes under time-critical conditions. The position supports launch vehicle and spacecraft trajectory analysis, mission design, spacecraft operations, flight dynamics data products, and real-time mission operations. It also contributes to internal simulation tools and flight dynamics infrastructure. The role requires a relevant engineering or applied physics degree, at least five years of mission-design or flight-dynamics experience, and U.S. citizenship due to program requirements. An active Secret clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Space Systems, or Software Engineering, or an equivalent Engineering or Applied Physics degree.
At least 5 years of experience in mission design or flight dynamics.
Understanding of orbital mechanics and orbit-determination theory.
Mission-analysis experience with STK, Astrogator, GMAT, Monte, Copernicus, or equivalent tools.
Python software-development experience.
Experience with Git or an equivalent version-control system.
Experience with Jira or equivalent software project-management tools.
Active Secret clearance, or the 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 experience 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 company HSA 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.