Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer I

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, separati...

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 Develop...

Based out of Rocket Lab’s site in Littleton, CO, the Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer I is responsible for leading GNC and ADCS development for Rocket Lab’s growing fleet of diverse spacecraft. You will demonstrate a firm grasp of spacecraft GNC concepts and applications. You will work with all facets of the engineeri...

Mentor a team responsible for GNC design, modeling, and analysis for a wide variety of spacecraft and space missions to include LEO, MEO, GEO, Lunar, Interplanetary, Reentry, and RPOD
Design of flight software, algorithms, and simulation product
Development of spacecraft autonomy tools for constellation management
GNC component selection and GNC subsystem design
Test process development and execution
Define fault detection and response
Hardware-in-the-loop and Monte Carlo simulation
Integration of flight and simulation software with modern analysis, test, and operations tools
Support internal and external design reviews
Work with department leads and program managers to plan and maintain team schedule and milestones and report technical status
Coordinate with teams in Long Beach, CA and New Zealand

B.S and 5+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
Ability to maintain and obtain a security clearance
Prior experience directly interfacing with aerospace customers in the commercial or government sectors
U.S citizenship is required, due to program requirements
MS or PhD
Active TS/SCI clearance
2+ years of RPOD design and operations experience
Experience in Jira planning and workflow
Prior experiencing mentoring a team of younger engineers
Hands-on experience with IMU, reaction wheels, star trackers, gyroscopes, and other GNC hardware
Experience developing blended attitude solutions from a variety of sensor data
Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and verifying flight software
Demonstrated experience with spacecraft on-orbit operations and anomaly resolution
Prior experience leading a team across a project lifecycle (not necessarily a spacecraft, not necessarily a whole GNC system)
Prior experience working multiple projects simultaneously and determining priorities for a team
Experience with GNC-related Business Development or conceptual design work

Citizenship of AU / NZ / EU / NATO