Senior RF Design Engineer I - Pipeline

Rocket Lab Corp.; Long Beach, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 144,000 - 206,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior RF Design Engineer I to join the Space Systems team in Long Beach, CA, onsite. You will develop RF products like the Frontier-Lite Radio, defining requirements, selecting components, and prototyping boards for space-grade hardware.

You will collaborate with test and manufacturing teams to drive NPI, create test plans, and support production automation while ensuring space-worthy design practices and compliance with ITAR. U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, RF communications, and 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Fundamental RF knowledge including cascaded device analysis, link budget analysis, and HFSS.
• Experience in developing and delivering an RF product including assessing requirements, prototyping engineering models, and producing space worthy products.
• Solid theoretical and practical understanding of RF communications and navigation systems and components.
• US Citizenship is required due to program requirements.
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain requirements specifications.
• Support the development process, ensuring key design decisions and developments are in line with required product capabilities.
• Design and prototype the RF product including component selection and PCB layout / fabrication / packaging.
• Support the development of test plans and procedures.
• Support the design and development of GSE and production automation.
• Support the development of product documentation including ICDs and User Manuals.
• Liaise with Test Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers to drive New Product Introduction.
• Review proposals and requirements specifications to assess compliance based on existing unit capabilities vs development needs.
• Scope and drive development activities for new requirements.
• Support engineering reviews such as PDRs, CDRs and TRRs.
• Provide technical support to internal/external customers including general questions and anomaly troubleshooting.
• Maintain broad awareness of product development and production schedules to ensure the needs of customers and programs are satisfied.

Skills

RF design

System design

PCB layout

HFSS

Link budget

US citizenship

TS/SCI eligibility

RF analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, RF communications

Tools

PCB Layout Software

Job description

Rocket 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.

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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.

SENIOR RF DESIGN ENGINEER I

We are currently seeking a Senior RF Design Engineer I based onsite at Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA. The Senior RF Design Engineer will be responsible for supporting the development of new RF products including Rocket Lab’s radio product line alongside the radio development team. The Senior RF Design Engineer will design and simulate RF products including the Frontier-Lite Radio. The successful candidate will have a strong combination of RF engineering, system design, and board/circuit design skills and will thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

Product Development

• Define and maintain requirements specifications
• Support the development process, ensuring key design decisions and developments are in alignment with the required product capabilities
• Design and prototype the RF product including component selection and PCB layout / fabrication / packaging
• Support the development of test plans and procedures
• Support the design and development of GSE and production automation
• Support the development of product documentation including ICDs and User Manuals
• Liaise with Test Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers to drive New Product Introduction

Customer/Program Support

• Review proposals and requirements specifications to assess compliance based on existing unit capabilities vs development needs
• Scope and drive development activities for new requirements
• Support engineering reviews such as PDRs, CDRs and TRRs
• Provide technical support to internal/external customers including general questions and anomaly troubleshooting
• Maintain broad awareness of product development and production schedules to ensure the needs of customers and programs are satisfied

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A SENIOR RF DESIGN ENGINEER I:

• Bachelors degree in electrical engineering, RF communications (or other engineering degree) and 5+ years of relevant experience
• Fundamental RF knowledge including cascaded device analysis, link budget analysis, and HFSS
• Experience in developing and delivering a RF product including assessing requirements, prototyping engineering models, and producing space worthy products.
• A solid theoretical and practical understanding of RF communications and navigation systems and components
• U.S. Citizenship is required due to program requirements
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Extensive experience in space grade board design including parts selection and performance simulation
• Extensive experience in circuit analyses including worst case, reliability, FMECA, thermal, and derating analyses
• Extensive experience supporting and leading complex engineering programs and developing associated documentation
• Experience designing, integrating, and testing RF communications systems for launch vehicles or satellites
• Demonstrated expertise in people management.
• Experience leading incident management and investigations.
• Experience in conflict resolution and dealing with difficult people.
• The ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Effective communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships

This 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.

Total Compensation (base and equity)

$144,275 — $206,175 USD

$124,000 — $170,500 USD

WHAT TO EXPECT

We’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.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To 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 .

Rocket 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.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [e-mail]. 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.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For 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.

Under 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.