Senior Systems Engineer II - RF Mission Solutions

Rocket Lab Corporation•Long Beach, CA

8h•Onsite

About The Position

Based out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior RF Mission Architect who thrives at the front end of the mission lifecycle. We operate on a work fast, bid fast, build fast cadence. We design and manufacture high-performance payload products that serve as the building blocks for next-generation tactical satcom, space-based sensing, and direct-to-cell constellations. In this role, you hold primary technical ownership over how our core product line evolves to capture new missions. You will balance link budgets, antenna architectures, digital vs analog components, SWaP-C constraints and then some —while authoring those trades into winning technical concepts for defense and commercial customers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other technical discipline
8+ years of experience in aerospace or defense RF systems
Demonstrated track record architecting complex multi-function RF, SAR/radar, or digital communication payloads from concept to proposal win
Eligible to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in RF/microwave, electromagnetics, radar, or related field
Experience in antennas, arrays, RF front‑end architectures, TR modules, DSP
Radar techniques (SAR, MTI, STAP), performance modeling
Advanced waveforms, protected tactical standards, spectrum management
Digital payload concepts and RF‑compute convergence
Radiation effects and resilient RF architectures
Zero trust, Post-quantum Cryptography requirements at hardware level
Tools: STK, MATLAB, Python, HFSS, CST
Understanding of spacecraft bus systems and their impact on payloads
RF-centric mission design and integration experience
Visionary and technically rigorous
Comfortable in ambiguity and open‑ended missions
Resilient against “that can’t be done” thinking
Collaborative across BD, engineering, executives, suppliers, and partners
A clear communicator able to explain complex decisions in mission + financial context
Efficient: strong foundations but always seeking faster, smarter ways to execute
Entrepreneurial: eager to pursue bold ideas and see them come to life
Either a seasoned architect ready to influence strategy, or a fast-learning cleared engineer ready to accelerate into mission formulation

Responsibilities

Architect Clean-Sheet Payloads: Run early mission trades, define payload topologies, analog vs digital conversion boundary, waveform processing constraints, or integration of cryptographic requirement for optimal mission profiles.
Drive Technical Capture: Work directly with customers and our leadership team to frame complex RF trade-offs, write the core technical architecture narratives for key proposals, and defend your design choices.
Shape the Hardware Roadmap: Use insights from customer mission needs to directly influence our internal R&D, payload prototyping, and technology investments.
Bridge Concept to Flight: Partner with payload hardware, software, and spacecraft teams to make sure the architectures you pitch are buildable and transition cleanly into flight development.

Benefits

Company stock as part of your total compensation package
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
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 our popular merch store
Variety of other employee discounts