Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I - Secret Clearance 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.
The Role
As a Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I based in Long Beach, CA, you will perform tracking, navigation, maneuver, trajectory planning, and collision avoidance design and operations for Earth orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions. You will work as part of a dynamic team with subject matter experts from Systems, Ground Software, Electrical, Avionics, Flight Software, Thermal, Propulsion, and GNC engineering disciplines, solving complex problems often under time critical conditions.
What You'll Do
- 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 development of in-house simulation tools and flight dynamics infrastructure
- Support real-time mission operations including anomaly response and post-launch data analysis
Qualifications Required
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Space Systems, Software Engineering, or equivalent Engineering or Applied Physics degree
- 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 tools
- Python software development
- Git version control or equivalent version control system
- Jira software project management or equivalent
- Active Secret clearance, with ability to obtain TS/SCI
- U.S. citizenship required, due to program requirements
Nice to Have
- Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field
- Active TS/SCI clearance
- Monte Carlo numerical simulation
- Orbit determination analysis with ODTK, Orekit, or equivalent
- Team and/or software project management experience
- Ability to work complex problems under time pressure
- Ability to prioritize tasks in consultation with a range of stakeholders
Compensation
- Base Salary: $132,000 to $198,000 USD
- Total Compensation (base and equity): $152,000 to $233,000 USD
- Company stock as part of total compensation package
- Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount on company stock
- Medical plans (HMO, PPO, zero cost HDHP with HSA company 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, discounted gym memberships
- Complimentary snacks and beverages
- 50% employee discount on merchandise store
Base salary and level determined on case-by-case basis considering job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Working Conditions
This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.