GNC Engineer I - Electron Verified today
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, and expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
About Electron
Rocket Lab's Electron team builds, tests, and launches the Electron rocket across launch sites and test facilities in the United States and New Zealand. Electron is one of the world's most frequently-launched rockets.
The Role
You will be responsible for general mission design including trajectory design and optimization, auto-sequence planning and design, Monte Carlo analysis, configuration management, and mission design, launch operations, verification and validation tasks as required.
What You'll Do
Trajectory Optimization and Mission Design
- Assist with trajectory optimization and design for launch vehicle orbital missions and suborbital missions (HASTE)
- Assist with auto-sequence design (maneuvers, telemetry, ground station contacts), implementation and verification for flight, stack tests and wet dress rehearsals
- Analyse and missionize optimized 3DOF trajectories for implementation in 6DOF and flight scenarios
- Conduct Monte Carlo analysis pre-flight, launch day and post-flight
- Design and verify spacecraft separation sequences and dynamics
GNC Research and Development Support
- Assist with all areas of GNC development and maintenance for Electron, Neutron and other programs including:
- Core GNC R&D (Guidance, Navigation, and Control)
- Vehicle parameter modelling, prediction and configuration control
- 6DOF simulator design and development
- Launch and HITL operations
Health and Safety
- Ensure health and safety policies and standard operating procedures are followed
- Wear correct PPE in designated areas
- Report near misses and incidents promptly
Required Qualifications
- Master's, bachelor's or higher degree in Aerospace, Mechatronics or equivalent qualification
- Thorough fundamental understanding of orbital mechanics
- Good theoretical and/or practical understanding of rigid body dynamics
- 1-2 years of experience developing software
- 1-2 years of relevant aerospace engineering experience (including rocketry experience)
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience with optimization for launch-vehicle or spacecraft missions
- Experience with Python or MATLAB
- Experience with GMAT or STK
- Experience in development and implementation of a basic 3DOF propagator for LEO, lunar, or interplanetary trajectory from fundamental equations of motion
Important Information
For candidates seeking to work in US offices: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce. This position is based in Auckland, New Zealand.