GNC Engineer I

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company that builds rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. The company supports connectivity and security on Earth and aims to extend humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The team moves fast, builds real hardware for meaningful missions, and works to make the impossible routine.

GNC Engineer I - Mission Formulation

Based out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the GNC Engineer I (Mission Formulation) is responsible for Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) design, modeling, analysis, and testing for Rocket Lab launches and missions. This role is part of the Global Launch Services (GLS) Mission Formulation Team, which works closely with other Engineering teams and Production to develop new launch and mission concepts.

The Mission Formulation team conducts trade studies, preliminary and final mission analyses, and the definition and implementation of detailed designs for Rocket Lab's launch programs. The team is also primarily responsible for formulating and implementing launches and missions for classified missions on HASTE and Electron launch vehicles.

Success in this role is measured by the knowledge and experience you bring in launch vehicle design and mission operations, your ability to contribute to projects without supervision, collaboration with other teams, and your ability to prioritize competing engineering projects.

What You'll Do

• Support GNC contact to Business Development for proposals and mission definition
• Develop launch and mission operational concepts
• Perform orbital and suborbital trajectory design and analysis
• Work with external stakeholders and customers on mission-specific requirements engineering
• Document proposed GNC solutions and take part 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
• Build tools and processes that automate common GNC modeling and analysis tasks

Nice to Have

• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Experience with requirements assessments and interface control document generation
• Experience with git version control
• 1+ years of experience in modeling, simulation, and/or control of dynamic systems, particularly rigid bodies
• 1+ years of Python development experience
• 1+ years of 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, and simulation tools
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships
• Creative, analytical, and strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to work on your own initiative and plan daily workflow to meet higher-level tasks

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, along with occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

What to Expect

Rocket Lab is on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth. The work takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and a commitment to achieving what others often consider impossible. The team thrives under pressure, works to tight deadlines, and focuses on how to deliver.

For candidates seeking to work in US offices: To conform to U.S. space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, a person lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum, or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other protected characteristic.