Flight Dynamics Engineer I/II

Confirmed live in the last 24 hours

Rocket Lab

Long Beach, CA

On-site

Posted March 13, 2026

Job Description

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access space. The rockets and satellites we build, and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

FLIGHT DYNAMICS ENGINEER I/II

As a Flight Dynamics Engineer I/II based out of our headquarters in Long Beach, CA, you will perform tracking, navigation, maneuver, trajectory planning, and collision avoidance design and operations for Earth orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions as part of a dynamic team with subject matter experts from Systems, Ground Software, Electrical, Avionics, Flight Software, Thermal, Propulsion, and GNC engineering disciplines. You will need to solve complex problems, at times under time critical conditions. You will be developing the ground scripting in Python to automate these flight dynamics processes.

(Please note: This position can be hired at the Flight Dynamics Engineer I or Flight Dynamics Engineer II level.)

QUALIFICATIONS YOU'LL BRING AS FLIGHT DYNAMICS ENGINEER I :

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Space Systems, or Software Engineering, or an equivalent Engineering or Applied Physics degree.
Experience in mission design, flight dynamics.
Understanding of orbital mechanics, Orbit determination theory.
Mission analysis with STK, Astrogator, GMAT, Monte, Copernicus, or equivalent.
Python software development.
Git version control, or an equivalent version control system.
Jira software project management or equivalent.
U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements

QUALIFICATIONS YOU'LL BRING AS FLIGHT DYNAMICS ENGINEER II:

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Space Systems, or Software Engineering, or an equivalent Engineering or Applied Physics degree.
2+ years of experience in mission design, flight dynamics.
Understanding of orbital mechanics, Orbit determination theory.
Mission analysis with STK, Astrogator, GMAT, Monte, Copernicus, or equivalent.

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