Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer I 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 enable exploration to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The Space Systems Team
Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions for NASA, the Space Development Agency, the U.S. Space Force, and commercial partners. We build complete spacecraft, precision payloads, and subsystems including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios. We work on missions across LEO, MEO, GEO, lunar, interplanetary, reentry, and rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOD).
The Role
As Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer I based in Long Beach, CA, you will lead guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) and attitude determination and control system (ADCS) development for Rocket Lab's diverse spacecraft portfolio. You will work across the full engineering lifecycle: concept development, algorithm design, flight software implementation, subsystem requirements, detailed GNC design, integration and test, and vehicle operations. You will mentor a team, coordinate with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software teams, and interface directly with customers.
What You'll Do
- Mentor a team on GNC design, modeling, and analysis for LEO, MEO, GEO, lunar, interplanetary, reentry, and RPOD missions
- Design flight software, algorithms, and simulation products
- Develop spacecraft autonomy tools for constellation management
- Select GNC components and design GNC subsystems
- Develop and execute test processes
- Define fault detection and response strategies
- Conduct hardware-in-the-loop and Monte Carlo simulations
- Integrate flight and simulation software with analysis, test, and operations tools
- Support internal and external design reviews
- Plan schedules, set milestones, and report technical status with program managers
- Coordinate with teams in Denver, Colorado and New Zealand
Required Qualifications
- BS degree plus 5+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
- Prior experience directly interfacing with aerospace customers in commercial or government sectors
- U.S. citizenship (required by program export control regulations)
Preferred Qualifications
- MS or PhD
- Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance
- 2+ years of RPOD design and operations experience
- Experience with Jira planning and workflow
- Demonstrated experience mentoring younger engineers
- Hands-on experience with IMU, reaction wheels, star trackers, gyroscopes, and other GNC hardware
- Experience developing blended attitude solutions from multiple sensor data
- Demonstrated flight software development, implementation, and verification
- Demonstrated spacecraft on-orbit operations and anomaly resolution experience
- Prior experience leading a team through a project lifecycle
- Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and team priorities
- GNC-related business development or conceptual design experience
Compensation
Base salary: $132,000 to $198,000 USD
Total compensation (base and equity): $152,000 to $233,000 USD
Equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits include company stock ownership, Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% discount), medical plans (HMO, PPO, zero-cost HDHP with HSA 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) with company match, subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on merchandise, and various other employee discounts.
Work Environment
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.
Additional Information
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or Department of Commerce.
For candidates seeking to work in New Zealand offices: background checks will be undertaken prior to offer. You must be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by ITAR. You may be ineligible if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a NATO country, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship.