Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer II

Rocket Lab•Littleton, CO

17h•Onsite

About The Position

Based at Rocket Lab’s Littleton, Colorado site, the Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer II leads GNC and ADCS development for Rocket Lab’s diverse spacecraft fleet. The role applies spacecraft GNC concepts across the engineering lifecycle, including spacecraft concept and algorithm development, flight software implementation, subsystem requirements, detailed GNC design, subsystem integration and test, and vehicle integration and test. It also plans and maintains development schedules in support of the Space Systems Software organization and works closely with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, Ground Software, and customers to support mission success. The position mentors engineers and supports GNC design, modeling, and analysis across spacecraft and missions spanning LEO, MEO, GEO, lunar, interplanetary, reentry, and RPOD applications. Work includes developing flight software, algorithms, simulation products, and spacecraft autonomy tools; selecting GNC components; designing subsystems; defining fault detection and response; and developing and executing test processes, including hardware-in-the-loop and Monte Carlo simulation. The role also supports design reviews, technical status reporting, schedule and milestone planning, and coordination with teams in Long Beach, California, and New Zealand.

Requirements

B.S. degree and at least 5 years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS.
Ability to maintain and obtain a security clearance.
Prior experience directly interfacing with aerospace customers in the commercial or government sectors.
U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.

Nice To Haves

MS or PhD.
Active TS/SCI clearance.
At least 2 years of RPOD design and operations experience.
Experience in 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 multiple projects simultaneously and determining priorities for a team.
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.
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.
Conduct hardware-in-the-loop and Monte Carlo simulation.
Integrate flight and simulation software with 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 Long Beach, California, and New Zealand.
Work with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software teams, and interact directly with customers to support mission success.