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 for Earth orbit, lunar, and interplanetary missions. We work with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
The Role
As Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I 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 solve complex problems, sometimes under time critical conditions, working with Systems, Ground Software, Electrical, Avionics, Flight Software, Thermal, Propulsion, and GNC engineering teams.
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
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Space Systems, or 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 with STK, Astrogator, GMAT, Monte, Copernicus, or equivalent
- Python software development
- Git version control or equivalent
- Jira software project management or equivalent
- Active Secret clearance, with ability to obtain TS/SCI
- U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
Desirable Qualifications
- 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 stakeholders
Compensation and Benefits
Base pay range (CA): $132,000 - $220,000 USD. You will receive company stock as part of total compensation. Benefits include Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% discount), 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 accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) with company match, subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, and employee discounts.
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.