Principal Spacecraft GNC Engineer

Requirements:

• Bachelors degree and 12+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS
• Active Secret clearance and ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance
• Prior experience directly interfacing with commercial or government aerospace customers
• U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
• Preferred: Masters or PhD
• Preferred: 2+ years of RPOD design and operations experience
• Preferred: Active TS/SCI clearance
• Preferred: Experience with Jira planning and workflows
• Preferred: Experience mentoring junior engineers
• Preferred: Hands-on experience with IMUs, reaction wheels, star trackers, gyroscopes, and other GNC hardware
• Preferred: Experience developing blended attitude solutions using data from multiple sensors
• Preferred: Experience developing, implementing, and verifying flight software
• Preferred: Experience with spacecraft on-orbit operations and anomaly resolution
• Preferred: Experience leading a team through a project lifecycle
• Preferred: Experience managing priorities across multiple concurrent projects
• Preferred: Experience with GNC-related business development or conceptual design

Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor a team designing, modeling, and analyzing GNC systems for spacecraft and missions across LEO, MEO, GEO, lunar, interplanetary, reentry, and RPOD applications
• 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 approaches
• Conduct 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
• Plan and maintain team schedules and milestones with department leads and program managers, and report technical status
• Coordinate with teams in Denver, Colorado, and New Zealand
• Lead GNC and ADCS development across the engineering lifecycle, from spacecraft concepts and algorithms through flight software, requirements, detailed design, integration, and testing
• Work with Systems, Avionics, Flight Software, Mission Operations, and Ground Software teams, and engage directly with customers to support mission success

Technologies:

• Hardware
• Support
• JIRA
• Security

More

We are Rocket Lab, an end-to-end space company developing rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. Our Space Systems team has supported more than 1,700 missions and builds spacecraft, payloads, and components for ambitious programs, including missions with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. This Principal Spacecraft GNC Engineer role is based at our global headquarters in Long Beach, California, and supports our growing fleet of diverse spacecraft. The position may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, as well as occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, or fumes in production areas. Total compensation, including base salary and equity, is listed at $247,000–$376,000 USD, with a base salary range of $195,000–$295,000 USD; compensation and equity value vary based on factors including role, experience, education, skills, vesting, and stock performance. Our benefits include company stock, an employee stock purchase program with a 15% discount, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and a 401(k) with company match. Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, fitness options, complimentary snacks and beverages, and employee discounts. We foster a collaborative, fast-paced environment focused on teamwork, innovation, and delivering on challenging missions. We provide equal employment opportunities and comply with applicable employment and export-control requirements.

last updated 43 week of 2026