Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer II Verified today
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. Our Space Systems team has enabled over 1,700 missions ranging from interplanetary exploration to national security. We build complete spacecraft, precision payloads, and components including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios.
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 complete engineering lifecycle: spacecraft concept and algorithm development, flight software implementation, subsystem requirements, detailed GNC design, integration and test, and vehicle I&T. You will coordinate with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software teams, interact directly with customers, and coordinate with teams in Denver and New Zealand.
What You'll Do
- Mentor a team responsible for 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
- Perform 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 and maintain team schedule, milestones, and technical status with department leads and program managers
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and 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
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's or PhD degree
- Active Secret or Top Secret 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 sensor data
- Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and verifying flight software
- Experience with spacecraft on-orbit operations and anomaly resolution
- Prior experience leading a team across a project lifecycle
- Experience managing multiple simultaneous projects and team priorities
- Experience with GNC-related Business Development or conceptual design work
Compensation and Benefits
Base pay range (CA only): $162,000 to $270,000 USD. Compensation includes company stock as part of your total compensation package.
Benefits include an 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) with company match, subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on merchandise store, and additional employee discounts.
Base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Working Conditions
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.