Principal Spacecraft GNC Engineer - Secret Clearance

About The Role

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

SPACE SYSTEMS

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, separation systems, radios, and more. 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 Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

PRINCIPAL SPACECRAFT GUIDANCE NAVIGATION AND CONTROL (GNC) ENGINEER - SECRET CLEARANCE

• 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.
• Career development and mentorship of junior engineers.
• Directly interact with customers to ensure mission success.

Qualifications

• B.S. and 12+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS.
• Prior experience directly interfacing with aerospace customers in the commercial or government sectors.
• U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements.

Desired Qualifications

• MS or PhD.
• 2+ years of RPOD design and operations experience.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Experience in Jira planning and workflow.
• Hands-on experience with IMU, reaction wheels, star trackers, gyroscopes, and other GNC hardware.
• 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.

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.