Senior RF Mission Architect - Space & Defense

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Company stock in total compensation

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior RF Mission Architect to own the technical evolution of our core payload product line. You will balance RF link budgets, antenna architectures, and SWaP-C constraints while documenting winning concepts for defense and commercial customers.

The role demands leading-edge RF design skills, coordination across hardware and software teams, and generation of compelling technical narratives for proposals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical or 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.

Responsibilities

• Architect clean-sheet payloads and define topologies and waveform processing constraints.
• Drive technical capture by framing RF trade-offs and writing architecture narratives for proposals.
• Shape the hardware roadmap influencing internal R&D and prototyping.
• Bridge concept designs to flight by coordinating with payload, software, and spacecraft teams.

Skills

8+ years RF systems experience

Multi-function RF/SAR/radar payloads

TS/SCI security clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical or aerospace engineering or technical discipline

Tools

STK

MATLAB

Python

HFSS

CST

Job description

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior RF Mission Architect to own the technical evolution of our core payload product line. You will balance RF link budgets, antenna architectures, and SWaP-C constraints while documenting winning concepts for defense and commercial customers.

The role demands leading-edge RF design skills, coordination across hardware and software teams, and generation of compelling technical narratives for proposals.