Senior GNC Engineer 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.
About Electron
Rocket Lab's Electron team is responsible for building, testing, and launching our Electron rocket across our launch sites and test facilities in the United States and New Zealand. Electron is one of the world's most frequently-launched rockets.
What you will do
In this role you will be responsible for:
- Mission design including trajectory design and optimization, auto-sequence planning and design, Monte Carlo analysis, configuration management, and any other mission design, launch operations, verification and validation tasks as required.
- GNC system development including writing GNC flight software, developing algorithms and models, analyzing GNC hardware performance, analyzing flight data.
- Working with the GNC Team Lead to support and mentor the team.
Trajectory Optimization and Mission Design
- Assisting with trajectory optimization and design for launch vehicle orbital missions and suborbital missions (HASTE).
- Assisting with auto sequence design (maneuvers, telemetry, ground station contacts), implementation and verification for flight, stack tests and wet dress rehearsals.
- Analysis and missionization of optimized 3DOF trajectories for implementation in 6DOF and flight scenarios.
- Monte Carlo analysis pre-flight, launch day and post-flight analysis.
- Design and verification of spacecraft separation sequences and dynamics.
GNC Research and Development Support
- Assisting 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.
- Correct PPE is worn in designated areas.
- Near misses and incidents are reported promptly.
Required qualifications
- Bachelor, Masters or Ph.D. in Electronics, Software, Mechatronics or Aerospace Engineering.
- 5+ years' experience developing in C/C++ including some embedded or high reliability development.
- 5+ years' experience developing in Python or MATLAB.
- The ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to build strong working relationships.
Desirable qualifications
- Experience with optimization for launch-vehicle or spacecraft missions.
- Experience with GMAT, STK, ASTOS and/or POST.
- Publications in the fields of guidance, navigation, control or other adjacent fields.