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Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer I to join the Mission Formulation Team at their Littleton, Colorado facility. This role focuses on Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) design, modeling, analyses, and testing for Rocket Lab launches and missions, including classified programs on HASTE and Electron launch vehicles.
You will serve as the GNC technical contact for Business Development during proposal and mission definition phases. Key responsibilities include conducting trade studies, preliminary and final mission analyses, orbital and suborbital trajectory design, and requirements engineering with external customers. You'll develop launch and mission operational concepts, document GNC solutions, and participate in design reviews.
The role involves significant technical depth: supporting hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing, conducting Monte Carlo simulation analyses, developing and releasing flight code for ground testing and launch operations, and creating tools to automate GNC modeling and analysis tasks.
Required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS, with strong understanding of orbital mechanics and closed-loop control systems (preferably launch vehicles). You must have proven experience developing real-time control and/or estimation algorithms in autonomous vehicles and trajectory optimization. An Active Secret security clearance is required, or the ability to obtain and maintain one.
Desirable experience includes Active TS/SCI clearance, requirements assessment and ICD generation, git version control, 3+ years in dynamics systems modeling/simulation (especially rigid bodies), Python development, MATLAB/SciPy data analysis, C/C++ development, and familiarity with mission analysis tools (POST, ASTOS, TAOS). Strong communication, problem-solving, and self-directed work capabilities are valued.
