Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer – Space Trajectory Missions

Telemetry Today LLC; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 233,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab, a leading space company based in Long Beach, CA, is seeking a Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I to design and validate trajectories for Earth orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex problems under time-critical conditions and contribute to in-house simulation tools and mission operations.

The role requires a strong background in aerospace, with 5+ years of flight dynamics experience, and an active security

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.
• Mission analysis with STK, Astrogator, GMAT, Monte, Copernicus, or equivalent.
• 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

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

Mission design

Orbital mechanics

Mission analysis tools

Git version control

Jira

Active security clearance

US citizenship

Education

Bachelors in aerospace/engineering/physics

Tools

STK

Astrogator

GMAT

Monte

Copernicus

ODTK

Orekit

Job description

Rocket Lab, a leading space company based in Long Beach, CA, is seeking a Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I to design and validate trajectories for Earth orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex problems under time-critical conditions and contribute to in-house simulation tools and mission operations.

The role requires a strong background in aerospace, with 5+ years of flight dynamics experience, and an active security