Senior GNC Engineer- Mission Formulation

GNC Engineer II / Senior GNC Engineer I – Mission Formulation

Based out of Rocket Lab’s site in Littleton, CO, the GNC Engineer II/ Senior GNC Engineer I – Mission Formulation is responsible for Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) design, modeling, analyses, and testing for Rocket Lab launches and missions. You’ll play an integral part of Rocket Lab’s Global Launch Services (GLS) Mission Formulation Team, which works closely with other Engineering teams and Production to bring new launch and mission concepts to life.

As part of the Mission Formulation team, you’ll be responsible for conducting trade studies, preliminary and final mission analyses, and definition and implementation of detailed designs for Rocket Lab’s launch programs. The team is also primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of launches and missions for classified missions on HASTE and Electron launch vehicles.

Success in this position will be measured by your knowledge and experience in launch vehicle design and mission experience, your ability to contribute to projects without supervision, successful collaboration with other teams, and skillful prioritization of competing engineering projects across the group.

• GNC contact to Business Development for proposals and mission definition
• Launch and mission operational concept development
• Orbital and suborbital trajectory design and analysis
• Work with external stakeholders and customers for mission‑specific requirements engineering
• Document proposed GNC solutions and participate 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
• Develop tools and processes for automating common GNC modelling and analysis tasks

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Please note:

This position can be hired at the GNC Engineer II or Senior GNC Engineer I level.)

• Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
• Understanding of orbital mechanics and/or closed‑loop control systems, preferably launch vehicles
• Experience with trajectory optimization
• Proven experience developing real‑time control and/or estimation algorithms in autonomous vehicles, preferably launch vehicles
• Active Secret security clearance OR Ability to obtain and maintain one

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
• Understanding of orbital mechanics and/or closed‑loop control systems, preferably launch vehicles
• Experience with trajectory optimization
• Proven experience developing real‑time control and/or estimation algorithms in autonomous vehicles, preferably launch vehicles
• Active Secret security clearance OR Ability to obtain and maintain one

• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Experience with requirements assessments and interface control document generation
• Experience with git version control
• 3+ years’ experience in modelling, simulation and/or control of dynamics systems, particularly rigid bodies
• 3+ years’ experience with Python development
• 3+ years’ experience with data analysis using MATLAB and/or Sci Py
• Experience developing in C/C++
• Experience with ASTOS or similar mission analysis, trajectory optimization, vehicle design and simulation tools
• Strong communication skills, ability to build strong working relationships
• Creative, analytical, and good at problem solving
• Ability to work on own initiative and to plan daily workflow to meet higher level tasks

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

The expected salary range for the position is displayed in accordance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Final agreed upon compensation is based upon individual qualifications and experience. Base salary is only one part of Rocket Lab’s compensation package for this role. You may be eligible for…