Senior RF Mission Architect — Space Systems

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 255,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in stock planning

Employee stock purchase program

Top‑tier medical plans (HMO/PPO)

Dental & vision coverage

Paid vacation & holidays

401(k) with company match

EV charging subsidies

Onsite fitness centers

Snacks & beverages

Job summary

Rocket Lab Corporation in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior RF Mission Architect who leads the front end of mission development for high‑performance payloads. You will own core RF architectures, balance trade‑offs, and craft winning technical concepts for defense and commercial missions.

This role requires deep RF expertise, experience shaping hardware roadmaps, and collaboration with payload hardware, software, and spacecraft teams to ensure buildable designs and smooth transitions to flight.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Architect clean‑sheet payloads: run early mission trades, define payload topologies, and waveform processing constraints.
• Drive technical capture: frame RF trade‑offs with customers and write core architecture narratives for proposals.
• Shape the hardware roadmap: influence internal R&D, payload prototyping, and technology investments.
• Bridge concept to flight: ensure architectures are buildable and transition to flight development.

Skills

RF systems

Multi‑function payloads

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical or aerospace engineering

Tools

STK

MATLAB

Python

HFSS

CST

Job description

Rocket Lab Corporation in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior RF Mission Architect who leads the front end of mission development for high‑performance payloads. You will own core RF architectures, balance trade‑offs, and craft winning technical concepts for defense and commercial missions.

This role requires deep RF expertise, experience shaping hardware roadmaps, and collaboration with payload hardware, software, and spacecraft teams to ensure buildable designs and smooth transitions to flight.