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Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Spacecraft GNC (Guidance, Navigation & Control) Engineer to lead the development of GNC and ADCS (Attitude Determination and Control Systems) for its growing fleet of diverse spacecraft. This role is based at Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA and requires an active Secret clearance with ability to obtain TS/SCI.
You will be responsible for the full engineering lifecycle of spacecraft GNC systems, from concept and algorithm development through flight software implementation, subsystem requirements, detailed design, integration & test, and vehicle-level testing. Your scope includes spacecraft across multiple orbital regimes: LEO, MEO, GEO, Lunar, Interplanetary, Reentry, and Rendezvous & Proximity Operations (RPOD).
Key responsibilities include:
- Mentoring a team responsible for GNC design, modeling, and analysis across diverse missions
- Designing flight software, algorithms, and simulation products
- Developing spacecraft autonomy tools for constellation management
- Selecting GNC components and designing GNC subsystems
- Developing and executing test processes, including hardware-in-the-loop and Monte Carlo simulations
- Defining fault detection and response strategies
- Supporting design reviews and coordinating with cross-functional teams (Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, Ground Software)
- Planning schedules and maintaining milestones with department leads and program managers
- Directly interfacing with customers to ensure mission success
- Coordinating with teams in Denver, CO and New Zealand
Required qualifications: B.S. degree with 5+ years of industry GNC/ADCS experience, active Secret clearance, prior experience interfacing with aerospace customers (commercial or government), and U.S. citizenship. Preferred qualifications include MS/PhD, active TS/SCI clearance, RPOD design experience, hands-on GNC hardware experience, flight software development expertise, on-orbit operations experience, and prior team leadership across project lifecycles.
