Senior Systems Engineer I - RF Mission Solutions

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company stock

Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% A

Top-tier medical plans (HMO/PPO)

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Subsidized EV charging

Onsite fitness centers

Discounted gym memberships

Snacks and beverages

Merchandise discount

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior RF Mission Architect to lead core payload architectures. You’ll balance link budgets, antenna designs, and SWaP constraints, then translate trades into winning technical concepts for defense and commercial customers.

You’ll collaborate with payload hardware, software, and spacecraft teams to ensure architectures are buildable and smoothly transition into flight development, while shaping the hardware roadmap and supporting customer engagements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related technical field.
• 5+ years experience in aerospace/defense RF systems.
• Track record architecting complex RF, SAR/radar, or digital payloads from concept to proposal.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Architect clean‑sheet payloads; run early mission trades and define topologies.
• Drive technical capture; frame RF tradeoffs for proposals and defend designs.
• Shape hardware roadmap; influence internal R&D and payload prototyping.
• Bridge concept to flight; ensure architectures are buildable for flight development.

Skills

5+ years experience

Active TS/SCI clearance

RF/microwave architecture

Defense and commercial RF systems

Proposal and trades experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related

Tools

STK

MATLAB

Python

HFSS

CST

Job description

Senior Systems Engineer I - RF Mission Solutions

Long Beach, CA

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.

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 SYSTEMS ENGINEER I – RF MISSION SOLUTIONS

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.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• 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.

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other technical discipline
• 5+ 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
• Active TS/SCI security clearance

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Advanced degree in RF/microwave, electromagnetics, radar, or related field
• Experience in antennas, arrays, RF front‑end architectures, TR modules, DSP
• 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

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.

Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.

Join one of the world's fastest‑growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay,you’ll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry‑leading 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, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional perks include subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on our popular merch store, and a variety of other employee discounts.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Total Compensation (base and equity)

$144,000 - $206,000 USD

$124,000 - $171,000 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 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.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Rocket Lab Corporation’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.