{"id":639377,"url":"https://alion.io/job/rocketlab-gnc-engineer-ii-2","title":"GNC Engineer II","company":{"id":684473,"name":"Rocket Lab","domain":"rocketlab.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/rocketlab-2","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":77,"open_postings":72,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.917,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":37,"computed_at":"2026-09-29T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Long Beach, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":125275,"max":176025,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":176025},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"Human-in-the-Loop","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":true},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true},{"name":"SciPy","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-20T20:18:37Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-25","last_verified_at":"2026-09-29T21:34:23Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":71,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":71},"description":"ABOUT ROCKET LAB\nRocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.\nGNC ENGINEER II - MISSION FORMULATION\nBased out of Rocket Lab’s global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the GNC Engineer II-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. \nAs part of the Mission Formulation team, you'll be responsible for conducting trades studies, preliminary and final mission analyses, and definition and implementation of detailed designs for Rocket Lab’s launch programs. This team is also primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of launches and missions for classified missions on HASTE and Electron launch vehicles. \nSuccess in this position will be measured by the value of the knowledge and experience in launch vehicle design and mission experience that you bring into this role, your ability to contribute to projects without supervision, successful collaboration with other teams across Rocket Lab, and the skillful prioritization of competing engineering projects across the group. \nWHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:\nGNC contact to Business Development for proposals and mission definition \nLaunch and mission operational concept development \nOrbital and suborbital trajectory design and analysis \nWork with external stakeholders and customers for mission-specific requirements engineering \nDocument proposed GNC solutions and participate in design reviews with customers \nSupport hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing to verify trajectories, GNC, and flight code performance \nConduct Monte Carlo simulation analyses to define and verify launch and mission operations \nDevelop and support release of flight code for pre-launch ground testing, launch, and mission operations \nDevelop tools and processes for automating common GNC modelling and analysis tasks \nYOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS GNC ENGINEER II: \nBachelor’s degree and 2+ years of industry experience in GNC/ADCS\nUnderstanding of orbital mechanics and/ or closed-loop control systems, preferably launch vehicles\nExperience with trajectory optimization\nProven experience developing real-time control and/or estimation algorithms in autonomous vehicles, preferably launch vehicles\nActive Secret security clearance OR Ability to obtain and maintain one\nTHESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:\nActive TS/SCI clearance\nExperience with requirements assessments and interface control document generation\nExperience with git version control.\n3+ years’ experience in modelling, simulation and/or control of dynamics systems, particularly rigid bodies\n3+ years’ experience with Python development\n3+ years’ experience with data analysis using MATLAB and/or SciPy\nExperience developing in C/C++\nExperience with POST, ASTOS, TAOS or similar mission analysis, trajectory optimization, vehicle design and simulation tools \nStrong communication skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships\nCreative, analytical, and good at problem solving\nAbility to work on own initiative and to plan daily workflow to meet higher level tasks\nThis 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.\nAnticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.\nJoin one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.\nOur comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution), 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) retirement plan with company match.\nAdditional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.\nLevel and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.\nTotal Compensation (base and equity)\n$125,275—$176,025 USD\nBase Salary\n$115,200—$158,400 USD\nWHAT TO EXPECT \nWe’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way. \nImportant information:\nFOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:\nTo conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.\nRocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.\nApplicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at . This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.\nFOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:\nFor security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations. \nUnder these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.","description_format":"text","description_chars":8245,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Gym membership","Life insurance","Parental leave","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-10T20:00:17Z"}],"liveness":{"score":13,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.364,"p_room":0.36,"age_days":70,"expected_fill_days":37,"reasons":["conf:2","stale_co","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-09-29T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":176025,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/rocketlab-gnc-engineer-ii-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/rocketlab-gnc-engineer-ii-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-09-30T01:29:04Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1035,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":3965,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-01T00:00:00Z"}}}