Director, RF Payloads

Rocket Lab Corporation•Long Beach, CA

3d•$198,000 - $330,000•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is seeking a Director, RF Payloads based at its global headquarters in Long Beach, California. This role leads the development of advanced radar payloads, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and space-based radar systems. The director oversees radar payload subsystem design, integration, and testing while leading RF engineering teams. The position requires extensive experience in radar system development, SAR processing, spaceborne radar missions, and payload integration in a fast-paced environment. The director leads end-to-end system development, from architecture and prototyping through integration, testing, and flight development. The role also provides technical direction across multidisciplinary engineering teams, supports customer and program activities, and contributes to proposals, mission architectures, engineering reviews, and resolution of technical anomalies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field, and at least 12 years of relevant experience.
Extensive hands-on experience developing and delivering radar systems from requirements through mission operations.
Deep knowledge of SAR imaging modes, including stripmap, spotlight, ScanSAR, and TOPS, and processing algorithms for space-based platforms.
Demonstrated experience with space-based radar systems in LEO, MEO, or GEO configurations.
Expert-level understanding of orbital mechanics and how orbit parameters affect radar performance, including revisit time, coverage, and resolution.
Strong knowledge of spacecraft design principles, including power systems, thermal control, attitude determination and control, and data handling.
Expert-level understanding of radar systems, including waveform design, pulse compression, Doppler processing, and clutter mitigation.
Proven track record leading complex spaceborne radar payload development programs.
Experience with radar payload testing, including EIRP, sensitivity, range-Doppler response, and image-quality metrics.
Understanding of launch environment requirements and space qualification processes.
Demonstrated leadership and team management experience.
U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.

Nice To Haves

Existing TS/SCI clearance.
Experience with advanced SAR techniques from space platforms, including GMTI, InSAR, polarimetry, and bistatic SAR.
Knowledge of radar image processing, autofocus algorithms, and exploitation tools for spaceborne data.
Experience with digital beamforming and phased-array radar systems for space applications.
Extensive experience in space-grade hardware design, mission assurance, and parts selection.
Experience with COTS radar component assessment and space qualification testing.
Knowledge of radar licensing, frequency coordination, ITU regulations, and spectrum management for space systems.
Experience with ground-segment development, including mission planning, tasking, data downlink, and processing systems.
Demonstrated expertise in FMECA, reliability analysis, worst-case analysis, and radiation effects for space radar systems.
Experience with constellation design and multi-satellite radar architectures.
Knowledge of launch vehicle integration and orbital insertion strategies.
Project management and earned value management experience.
Publications or patents in space-based radar technology.
Strong communication skills and ability to present to executive leadership and customers.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end development of space-based radar payload systems, including architecture design, prototyping, integration, testing, and flight development.
Ensure design decisions and development activities align with product and system needs.
Define and maintain radar payload requirements and performance metrics, accounting for orbital parameters and mission constraints.
Conduct radar system design trades for proposals and mission architectures, including orbit selection and spacecraft impacts.
Drive design decisions for waveform design, antenna architecture, and signal-processing chains optimized for space-based operations.
Lead radar analyses, including radar equation modeling across orbits, clutter analysis, signal-to-noise ratio, ambiguity resolution, and Doppler centroid variations.
Oversee radar calibration procedures and image-quality assessment methodologies for spaceborne systems.
Direct integration of radar payloads with spacecraft bus systems, including power budgets, thermal management, structural interfaces, and data-handling architectures.
Lead mission planning, including ground-track analysis, access-time optimization, and coverage requirements.
Lead development of test plans, procedures, and RF/radar test campaigns.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship to radar and RF engineering teams.
Lead multidisciplinary radar teams spanning RF, digital, mechanical, thermal, structural, and software engineering.
Drive innovation in space-based radar payload design and performance optimization.
Support development of ground support equipment, calibration targets, and production automation.
Develop product documentation, including interface control documents, concepts of operations, and user manuals.
Guide spacecraft-level design decisions to optimize radar payload performance.
Lead proposal efforts and requirements assessments for space-based radar payload opportunities.
Interface with customers, government agencies, and mission stakeholders.
Lead engineering reviews, including SRRs, PDRs, CDRs, and TRRs.
Provide expert technical support for radar system anomaly resolution.
Maintain awareness of program schedules and ensure customer needs are satisfied.

Benefits

Company stock as part of total compensation.
Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
Medical plans, including HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with a company HSA 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.
401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Subsidized EV charging.
Onsite fitness centers where available.
Discounted gym memberships.
Complimentary snacks and beverages.
50% employee discount on the company merchandise store.
Other employee discounts.