Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer II
About The Position
Based at Rocket Lab’s Littleton, Colorado site, the Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer II leads guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) and attitude determination and control system (ADCS) development for Rocket Lab’s diverse spacecraft fleet. The role spans the engineering lifecycle, including spacecraft concept and algorithm development, flight software implementation, subsystem requirements, detailed GNC design, subsystem and vehicle integration and test, and development schedule planning. The engineer works closely with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software teams, and interacts directly with customers to support mission success. The role includes mentoring a team and supporting programs and products across varied mission types, including LEO, MEO, GEO, Lunar, interplanetary, reentry, and rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD). It also includes coordinating 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
- M.S. or Ph.D.
- Active TS/SCI clearance.
- At least 2 years of RPOD design and operations experience.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- Lead GNC and ADCS development and support the spacecraft engineering lifecycle, including requirements development, subsystem and vehicle integration and test, and schedule planning.
- Interact directly with customers to ensure mission success.
Benefits
- Company stock as part of total compensation.
- Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
- Medical plans.
- 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.
- Other discounts and perks.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
