Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer II 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.

Space Systems Team

Our Space Systems team builds complete spacecraft, precision payloads, and subsystems including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios. The team has enabled more than 1,700 missions ranging from interplanetary exploration to national security initiatives, working with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

The Role

Based in Long Beach, CA, you will lead GNC and ADCS development for Rocket Lab's diverse spacecraft fleet. You will work across the full engineering lifecycle: concept and algorithm development, flight software implementation, subsystem requirements, detailed GNC design, integration and test, and vehicle I&T. You will plan and maintain development schedules, work closely with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software teams, and directly interact with customers to ensure mission success.

What You'll Do

• Mentor a team responsible for GNC design, modeling, and analysis for LEO, MEO, GEO, Lunar, Interplanetary, Reentry, and RPOD spacecraft
• 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
• Work with department leads and program managers on team scheduling, milestones, and technical status reporting
• Coordinate with teams in Denver, Colorado and New Zealand

Required Qualifications

• BS degree plus 8+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
• Prior experience directly interfacing with aerospace customers in commercial or government sectors
• U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements

Desirable Qualifications

• MS or PhD
• Active Secret or TS Security Clearance
• 2+ years of RPOD design and operations experience
• Experience with Jira planning and workflow
• Prior experience mentoring junior engineers
• Hands-on experience with IMU, reaction wheels, star trackers, gyroscopes, and other GNC hardware
• Experience developing blended attitude solutions from multiple sensor data sources
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and verifying flight software
• Demonstrated experience with spacecraft on-orbit operations and anomaly resolution
• Prior experience leading a team across a project lifecycle
• Prior experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and setting team priorities
• Experience with GNC-related business development or conceptual design work

Compensation

• Base Salary: $162,000-$243,000 USD
• Total Compensation (base and equity): $194,000-$300,000 USD
• Company stock as part of total compensation package
• Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount
• Medical (HMO, PPO, zero-cost HDHP with HSA company contribution), dental, vision coverage
• Paid vacation, 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
• Various additional 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.

ITAR and Export Control Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Candidates seeking to work in New Zealand offices 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 member country, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. Background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offer.