Senior GNC Engineer I - Mission Formulation 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, expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The Role
Based in Littleton, CO, you will be responsible for Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) design, modeling, analyses, and testing for Rocket Lab launches and missions. You'll be part of the Global Launch Services (GLS) Mission Formulation Team, working closely with Engineering and Production teams to develop new launch and mission concepts.
You will conduct trade studies, preliminary and final mission analyses, and detailed design definition for Rocket Lab's launch programs. The team formulates and implements launches and missions for classified missions on HASTE and Electron launch vehicles.
What You'll Do
- Serve as GNC contact to Business Development for proposals and mission definition
- Develop launch and mission operational concepts
- Conduct orbital and suborbital trajectory design and analysis
- Work with external stakeholders and customers for mission-specific requirements engineering
- Document proposed GNC solutions and participate in design reviews with customers
- Support hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing to verify trajectories, GNC, and flight code performance
- Conduct Monte Carlo simulation analyses to define and verify launch and mission operations
- Develop and support release of flight code for pre-launch ground testing, launch, and mission operations
- Develop tools and processes for automating common GNC modelling and analysis tasks
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
- Understanding of orbital mechanics and/or closed-loop control systems, preferably launch vehicles
- Experience with trajectory optimization
- Proven experience developing real-time control and/or estimation algorithms in autonomous vehicles, preferably launch vehicles
- Active Secret security clearance OR ability to obtain and maintain one
Desirable Qualifications
- Active TS/SCI clearance
- Experience with requirements assessments and interface control document generation
- Experience with git version control
- 3+ years' experience in modelling, simulation and/or control of dynamics systems, particularly rigid bodies
- 3+ years' experience with Python development
- 3+ years' experience with data analysis using MATLAB and/or SciPy
- Experience developing in C/C++
- Experience with POST, ASTOS, TAOS or similar mission analysis, trajectory optimization, vehicle design and simulation tools
- Strong communication skills and ability to build working relationships
- Creative, analytical, and strong problem-solving skills
- Ability to work independently and plan daily workflow to meet higher level tasks
Compensation
Base salary range (Colorado): $114,000 to $172,100 USD. Final compensation based on individual qualifications and experience.
Benefits include company stock eligibility, Employee Stock Purchase Program, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, paid parental leave, and other discounts and perks.
Working Conditions
This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, with occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.
Employment Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations (ITAR), employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, or have obtained required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or Commerce.