Space Radar RF Engineer II — Radar Systems

Rocket Lab Corp.; Long Beach, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 111,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab's Space Systems group is seeking an RF Engineer II to contribute to radar and RF system development for space applications. You will work on SAR and space-based radar projects, performing analyses, simulations, and hands-on testing with senior engineers.

The role demands a foundation in radar concepts, orbital mechanics, and spacecraft integration, with opportunities to collaborate across RF, digital, systems, and spacecraft teams. US citizenship and TS/SCI eligibility are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in relevant field.
• 2+ years of experience in a relevant field.
• Foundational knowledge of radar systems including radar equations and basic signal processing concepts.
• Academic or professional exposure to SAR systems, space-based radar, or remote sensing.
• Basic understanding of orbital mechanics including orbit types (LEO, MEO, GEO) and ground tracks.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of space-based radar systems from architecture design to flight development.
• Assist in radar link budget analysis and performance modeling considering orbital parameters.
• Conduct radar system simulations using MATLAB, Python, or specialized radar tools.
• Support radar design trades for waveforms, timing, and RF components for space applications.

Skills

Radar systems

RF engineering

MATLAB

Python

Orbital mechanics

Spacecraft systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, or related field

Tools

MATLAB

Python

STK

Job description

Rocket Lab's Space Systems group is seeking an RF Engineer II to contribute to radar and RF system development for space applications. You will work on SAR and space-based radar projects, performing analyses, simulations, and hands-on testing with senior engineers.

The role demands a foundation in radar concepts, orbital mechanics, and spacecraft integration, with opportunities to collaborate across RF, digital, systems, and spacecraft teams. US citizenship and TS/SCI eligibility are required.