Senior RF Radar Engineer I

Rocket Lab Corporation•Long Beach, CA

1d•$132,000 - $198,000•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior RF Engineer II - Radar/RF for its Space Systems team, based at its global headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role is responsible for technical development of radar and RF systems, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and space-based radar applications. The engineer will drive radar system architecture, oversee RF component integration, and support hands-on radar testing and calibration. The position calls for combined expertise in radar engineering, RF systems design, and spacecraft systems in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
At least 5 years of relevant experience.
Hands-on experience with space-based radar systems, including system integration and mission operations, imaging modes, processing, and performance assessment.
Strong understanding of orbital mechanics and spacecraft systems, including how orbital parameters affect radar performance.
Working knowledge of spacecraft subsystems, including power, thermal, and ADCS, and their impact on radar payload design.
Strong radar systems knowledge, including waveform design, pulse compression, and Doppler processing.
Theoretical and practical understanding of RF systems, including link budgets, linearity, and noise analysis.
Experience developing and delivering radar/RF systems for space applications from requirements through testing.
Proficiency with radar simulation tools and orbital analysis software.
Experience with radar testing, including range measurements and RF performance characterization.
U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD TS/SCI clearance.

Nice To Haves

Existing DoD TS/SCI clearance.
Extensive experience in space-grade radar system design and environmental testing.
Knowledge of advanced SAR techniques for space platforms, including GMTI, InSAR, and polarimetry.

Responsibilities

Lead technical development of space-based radar systems, including architecture design, prototyping, integration, testing, and flight development.
Define and maintain radar performance requirements and link-budget specifications while accounting for orbital parameters.
Conduct radar payload design trades, including antenna selection, waveform optimization, and processing architectures for space platforms.
Drive technical decisions for radar modes, timing, pulse repetition frequency (PRF) selection, and RF chain design, considering orbit dynamics.
Analyze range and Doppler resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, ambiguity, interference, and orbital effects on radar performance.
Analyze mission requirements, including orbit selection, ground-track patterns, and revisit characteristics.
Develop radar calibration strategies and image-quality validation methods for spaceborne systems.
Support development of radar test plans, procedures, and automated test systems.
Lead the design and development of radar ground support equipment, including calibration sources and test fixtures.
Support spacecraft integration and coordinate with bus subsystem teams covering power, thermal, ADCS, and data handling.
Support development of product documentation, including interface control documents, test reports, and user manuals.
Design and analyze radar waveforms for space-based imaging and detection applications.
Model and simulate radar systems using tools such as MATLAB, STK, or custom code, including orbital propagation.
Assess and integrate commercial off-the-shelf RF components for space-qualified radar transmit and receive chains.
Support hands-on radar testing, including EIRP measurements and receiver sensitivity testing.
Interface with RF, digital, mechanical, thermal, structural, and software engineering teams.
Review proposals and requirements specifications for space-based radar payload opportunities.
Scope and drive development activities for new radar capabilities.
Support engineering reviews such as PDRs, CDRs, and TRRs.
Provide technical support to internal and external customers, including troubleshooting radar performance.
Maintain awareness of product development and production schedules.

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.
Employee discount on the company merchandise store and other employee discounts.