Spacecraft GNC Engineer II​/Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer

Littleton, CO

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. Our rockets and satellites enable ambitious scientific exploration, Earth observation, climate‑change missions, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations. The Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit.

We are developing Neutron, our upcoming medium‑lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment.

Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space: solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more. We have enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration to national security initiatives, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

Based out of our Littleton, CO site, the Spacecraft GNC Engineer II / Senior Spacecraft GNC Engineer I is responsible for leading GNC and ADCS development for Rocket Lab’s growing fleet. You will work throughout the engineering life cycle: concept and algorithm development, flight software implementation, subsystem requirements, detailed GNC design, subsystem integration & test (I&T), and vehicle I&T. Planning and maintaining the development schedule will support the Space Systems Software organization.

You will collaborate with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software, and directly interact with customers to ensure mission success.

• Mentor a team responsible for GNC design, modeling, and analysis for a wide variety of spacecraft and space missions including LEO, MEO, GEO, Lunar, Interplanetary, Reentry, and RPOD
• Design flight software, algorithms, and simulation products
• Develop spacecraft autonomy tools for constellation management
• Select GNC components and design GNC subsystems
• Develop and execute test processes
• Define fault detection and response
• Perform hardware‑in‑the‑loop and Monte Carlo simulations
• Integrate flight and simulation software with modern analysis, test, and operations tools
• Support internal and external design reviews
• Work with departmental leads and program managers to plan team schedule, milestones, and report technical status
• Coordinate with teams in Denver, Colorado and New Zealand

• BS and 2+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
• Experience directly interfacing with aerospace customers in the commercial or government sectors
• U.S. citizenship required, due to program requirements

• BS and 5+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
• Experience directly interfacing with aerospace customers in the commercial or government sectors
• U.S. citizenship required, due to program requirements

• MS or PhD
• 2+ years of RPOD design and operations experience
• Experience in Jira planning and workflow
• Prior 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
• Experience leading a team across a project lifecycle (not necessarily a spacecraft, not necessarily a whole GNC system)
• Experience working multiple projects simultaneously and determining priorities for a team
• Experience with GNC‑related Business Development or conceptual design work

• Vision abilities: close, distance, peripheral, depth perception, focus
• Regular use of hands and fingers, computer keyboard and controls, verbal and written communication
• Physically able…