Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I

rocketlab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock purchase program

Medical plans

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays

Flexible spending accounts

Parental leave

Disability and life insurance

401(k) with company match

EV charging

Onsite fitness centers

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I to design and analyze trajectories for Earth-orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions. You will collaborate with Systems, Ground Software, Electrical, Avionics, and GNC teams to validate guidance profiles and ensure mission readiness.

You’ll perform propagation, rendezvous planning, and contingency analyses while contributing to in-house simulation tools and real-time operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Space Systems, or Software Engineering, or an equivalent Engineering or Applied Physics degree.
• 5+ years of experience in mission design, flight dynamics.
• Understanding of orbital mechanics, Orbit determination theory.
• Experience with mission analysis tools like STK, Astrogator, GMAT, Monte, Copernicus, or equivalent.
• Proficient in Python software development.
• Git version control experience.
• Experience with Jira or equivalent project management tool.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and analyze launch vehicle and spacecraft trajectories, including ascent, orbit insertion, and orbital maneuvers.
• Perform orbital propagation, rendezvous planning, and station-keeping analysis for spacecraft operations.
• Support mission design including launch window analysis, delta-V budgets, and contingency planning.
• Interface with flight software and GNC teams to validate and optimize guidance profiles.
• Generate and deliver trajectory data products and flight dynamics support for mission readiness reviews.
• Contribute to development of in-house simulation tools and flight dynamics infrastructure.
• Support real-time mission operations including anomaly response and post-launch data analysis.

Skills

Python

Orbital mechanics

Mission design

Git

Jira

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace/Mechanical/Space Systems

Master's degree (nice to have)

Tools

STK

Astrogator

GMAT

Monte

Orekit/Copernicus

Job description

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. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets - we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space - our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

SENIOR FLIGHT DYNAMICS ENGINEER I

As a Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I based out of Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA, you will perform tracking, navigation, maneuver, trajectory planning, and collision avoidance design and operations for Earth orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions as part of a dynamic team with subject matter experts from Systems, Ground Software, Electrical, Avionics, Flight Software, Thermal, Propulsion, and GNC engineering disciplines. You will need to solve complex problems, at times under time critical conditions. Join a driven team of pioneers relentlessly tackling challenging projects, delivering on the impossible, and making an impact on the future of space!

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

• Develop and analyze launch vehicle and spacecraft trajectories, including ascent, orbit insertion, and orbital maneuvers
• Perform orbital propagation, rendezvous planning, and station-keeping analysis for spacecraft operations
• Support mission design including launch window analysis, delta-V budgets, and contingency planning
• Interface with flight software and GNC teams to validate and optimize guidance profiles
• Generate and deliver trajectory data products and flight dynamics support for mission readiness reviews
• Contribute to development of in-house simulation tools and flight dynamics infrastructure
• Support real-time mission operations including anomaly response and post-launch data analysis

QUALIFICATIONS YOU'LL BRING AS SENIOR FLIGHT DYNAMICS ENGINEER I :

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Space Systems, or Software Engineering, or an equivalent Engineering or Applied Physics degree.
• 5+ years of experience in mission design, flight dynamics.
• Understanding of orbital mechanics, Orbit determination theory.
• Mission analysis with STK, Astrogator, GMAT, Monte, Copernicus, or equivalent.
• Python software development.
• Git version control, or an equivalent version control system.
• Jira software project management or equivalent.
• Active Secret clearance, or ability to obtain and maintain one
• U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Monte Carlo numerical simulation.
• Orbit determination analysis with ODTK, Orekit, or equivalent
• Team and/or software project management experience.
• Ability to work complex problems under time pressure.
• Ability to prioritize tasks in consultation with a range of stakeholders.

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.

Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package , giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Benefits

• our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock)
• top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant 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
• a 401(k) retirement plan with company match

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks a