Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I
About The Position
Rocket Lab is hiring a Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I for its headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role performs tracking, navigation, maneuver, trajectory planning, and collision-avoidance design and operations for Earth-orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions. The engineer will work with multidisciplinary subject matter experts across Systems, Ground Software, Electrical, Avionics, Flight Software, Thermal, Propulsion, and GNC. The position involves solving complex problems, sometimes under time-critical conditions. The role supports trajectory development and analysis, spacecraft operations and mission design, validation of guidance profiles, mission-readiness reviews, flight-dynamics tools and infrastructure, and real-time mission operations. The position may require prolonged sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, with occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.
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 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.
- Experience with Git or an equivalent version-control system.
- Experience with Jira or equivalent software project-management tools.
- 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 using 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 the total compensation package.
- 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.
- A variety of other employee discounts.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
