Senior GNC Engineer II- Mission Formulation

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 162,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Medical, dental and vision plans

Paid vacation and holidays

401(k) with company match

EV charging on-site (where available)

Onsite gym facilities (where available

Snacks and beverages

Job summary

Rocket Lab Corporation in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer II - Mission Formulation to lead GNC design, modeling, and testing across Rocket Lab launches and missions. You will perform trades studies, trajectory analyses, and implement detailed designs for new launch programs, including classified missions.

The role emphasizes collaboration, HITL verification, and development of reusable GNC tools; responsibilities span concept development to flight code release and day-of-launch

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical).
• 8+ years in an engineering/analytical role.
• Proven experience in real-time control/estimation algorithms for autonomous vehicles.

Responsibilities

• GNC liaison to Business Development for proposals and mission definition.
• Develop launch and mission operational concepts and trajectories.
• Perform orbital/suborbital trajectory design and analysis.
• Collaborate with external stakeholders to gather mission requirements.
• Document GNC solutions and participate in design reviews.

Skills

GNC design

Trajectory design

Monte Carlo analysis

Python development

MATLAB/SciPy

C/C++ development

Systems engineering

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering (Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical)

Tools

Git version control

Post, ASTOS, TAOS or similar tools

HITL testing tools

Job description

Long Beach, CA

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.

SENIOR GNC ENGINEER II - MISSION FORMULATION

Based out of Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, CA or Littleton, CO, the Sr. GNC Engineer II - Mission Formulation is responsible for Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) design, modeling, analyses, and testing for Rocket Lab launches and missions. The Sr. GNC Engineer is an integral part of Rocket Lab’s Global Launch Services (GLS) Mission Formulation Team which works closely with other Engineering teams and Production to bring new launch and mission concepts to life.

As part of the Mission Formulation team, the Sr. GNC Engineer is responsible for conducting trades studies, preliminary and final mission analyses, and definition and implementation of detailed designs for Rocket Lab’s launch programs. This team is also primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of launches and missions for classified missions on HASTE and Electron launch vehicles.

Success in this position will be measured by the value of the knowledge and experience in launch vehicle design and mission experience that you bring into this role, your ability to contribute to projects without supervision, successful collaboration with other teams across Rocket Lab, and the skillful prioritization of competing engineering projects across the group.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• GNC contact to Business Development for proposals and mission definition
• Launch and mission operational concept development
• Orbital and suborbital trajectory design and analysis
• Work with external stakeholders and customers for mission-specific requirements engineering
• Document proposed GNC solutions and participate in design reviews with customers
• Support hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing to verify trajectories, GNC, and flight code performance
• Conduct Monte Carlo simulation analyses to define and verify launch and mission operations
• Develop and support release of flight code for pre-launch ground testing, launch, and mission operations
• Conduct flight safety analyses prior to launch and provide related day-of-launch support
• Verify readiness of AFTS (Automated Flight Termination System) hardware and software
• Develop tools and processes for automating common GNC modelling and analysis tasks

QUALIFICATIONS YOU’LL BRING:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering)
• 8+ years working experience in an engineering or analytical role
• Proven experience developing real-time control and/or estimation algorithms in autonomous vehicles, preferably launch vehicles

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Experience with requirements assessments and interface control document generation
• Experience with git version control.
• 3+ years’ experience in modelling, simulation and/or control of dynamics systems, particularly rigid bodies
• 3+ years’ experience with Python development
• 3+ years’ experience with data analysis using MATLAB and/or SciPy
• Experience developing in C/C++
• Experience with POST, ASTOS, TAOS or similar mission analysis,trajectory optimization, vehicle design andsimulationtools
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships
• Creative, analytical, and good at problem solving
• Ability to work on own initiative and to plan daily workflow to meet higher level tasks

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.

Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.

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.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes 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, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Total Compensation (base and equity)

$194,500 - $300,275 USD

$162,000 - $243,000 USD

WHAT TO EXPECT

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here .

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [e-mail]. This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Rocket Lab Corporation’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.