Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer II - Secret Clearance Verified today
About the role
Based in Long Beach, CA, you will lead GNC and ADCS development for Rocket Lab's diverse spacecraft. You will work across the full engineering lifecycle: spacecraft concept and algorithm development, flight software implementation, subsystem requirements, detailed GNC design, integration and test, and vehicle integration. You will plan schedules, mentor your team, and coordinate with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software teams. You will directly interact with customers to ensure mission success.
What you will 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
- Conduct hardware-in-the-loop and Monte Carlo simulation
- Integrate flight and simulation software with analysis, test, and operations tools
- Support internal and external design reviews
- Plan team schedules, maintain milestones, and report technical status
- Coordinate with teams in Denver, Colorado and New Zealand
Required qualifications
- B.S. degree and 8+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
- Active Secret clearance, with ability to obtain TS/SCI
- 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 TS/SCI clearance
- 2+ years of RPOD design and operations experience
- Experience with Jira planning and workflow
- Prior experience mentoring younger 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
- Prior experience working multiple projects simultaneously and determining team priorities
- Experience with GNC-related business development or conceptual design work
Compensation
Base salary range (CA): $132,000 to $198,000 USD. Salary determined based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Benefits
Company equity, top-tier medical HMO and PPO with 100% company-sponsored HSA option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) with company match, discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts. Eligibility varies by employment status.
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.
ITAR and citizenship requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including ITAR, employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder), refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or Department of Commerce.