Senior Spacecraft Trajectory & Flight Dynamics Engineer

Rocket Lab Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I to join our Space Systems team in Los Angeles. You will lead trajectory design, navigation, and collision avoidance for complex Earth-orbiting and deep-space missions, working with a multidisciplinary engineering group to ensure successful mission outcomes.

The role involves developing and analyzing launch vehicle and spacecraft trajectories, performing orbital propagation and rendezvous planning, and supporting mission design with launch

Qualifications

• Perform tracking, navigation, maneuver, trajectory planning, and collision avoidance design for space missions.
• Develop and analyze spacecraft trajectories for Earth orbit, lunar, and interplanetary missions.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure mission success.

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.

Skills

Trajectory design

Orbital mechanics

GNC integration

Job description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I to join our Space Systems team in Los Angeles. You will lead trajectory design, navigation, and collision avoidance for complex Earth-orbiting and deep-space missions, working with a multidisciplinary engineering group to ensure successful mission outcomes.

The role involves developing and analyzing launch vehicle and spacecraft trajectories, performing orbital propagation and rendezvous planning, and supporting mission design with launch