Director, Radar Payload Verified today

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios. The Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions for NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

The Role

Based in Long Beach, CA, you will lead the development of advanced radar payloads including SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) and space-based radar systems. You will oversee design, integration, and testing of radar payload subsystems and lead a team of RF engineers.

System Leadership & Development

• Lead end-to-end development of space-based radar payload systems including architecture design, prototyping, integration, test, and flight development
• Define and maintain radar payload requirements specifications and performance metrics considering orbital parameters and mission constraints
• Conduct radar system design trades in support of new business proposals and mission architectures including orbit selection and spacecraft impacts
• Drive key design decisions for waveform design, antenna architecture, and signal processing chains optimized for space-based operations
• Lead analyses including radar equation modeling for various orbits, clutter analysis, SNR, ambiguity resolution, and Doppler centroid variations
• Oversee development of radar calibration procedures and image quality assessment methodologies for spaceborne systems
• Direct integration of radar payloads with spacecraft bus systems including power budgets, thermal management, structural interfaces, and data handling architectures
• Lead mission planning activities including ground track analysis, access time optimization, and coverage requirements
• Lead development of test plans, procedures, and RF/radar test campaigns

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to radar and RF engineering teams
• Lead multidisciplinary teams including RF, digital, mechanical, thermal, structural, and software engineers
• Drive innovation in space-based radar payload design and performance optimization
• Support development of GSE, calibration targets, and production automation
• Develop product documentation including ICDs, ConOps, and User Manuals
• Guide spacecraft-level design decisions to optimize radar payload performance

Customer and Program Support

• Lead proposal efforts and requirements assessments for space-based radar payload opportunities
• Interface with customers, government agencies, and mission stakeholders
• Lead engineering reviews such as SRRs, PDRs, CDRs, and TRRs
• Provide expert technical support for radar system anomaly resolution
• Maintain awareness of program schedules and ensure customer needs are satisfied

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field and 12+ years of relevant experience
• Extensive hands-on experience developing and delivering radar systems from requirements through mission operations
• Deep knowledge of SAR imaging modes (stripmap, spotlight, ScanSAR, TOPS) and processing algorithms for space-based platforms
• Demonstrated experience with space-based radar systems including LEO, MEO, or GEO configurations
• Expert-level understanding of orbital mechanics and how orbit parameters affect radar performance including revisit time, coverage, and resolution
• Strong knowledge of spacecraft design principles including power systems, thermal control, attitude determination and control, and data handling
• Expert-level understanding of radar systems including waveform design, pulse compression, Doppler processing, and clutter mitigation
• Proven track record leading complex spaceborne radar payload development programs
• Experience with radar payload testing including EIRP, sensitivity, range-Doppler response, and image quality metrics
• Understanding of launch environment requirements and space qualification processes
• Demonstrated leadership and team management experience
• U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance

Nice to Have

• Existing TS/SCI clearance
• Experience with advanced SAR techniques (GMTI, InSAR, polarimetry, bistatic SAR) from space platforms
• Knowledge of radar image processing, autofocus algorithms, and exploitation tools for spaceborne data
• Experience with digital beamforming and phased array radar systems for space applications
• Extensive experience in space-grade hardware design, mission assurance, and parts selection
• Experience with COTS radar component assessment and space qualification testing
• Knowledge of radar licensing, frequency coordination, ITU regulations, and spectrum management for space systems
• Experience with ground segment development including mission planning, tasking, data downlink, and processing systems
• Demonstrated expertise in FMECA, reliability analysis, worst-case analysis, and radiation effects for space radar systems
• Experience with constellation design and multi-satellite radar architectures
• Knowledge of launch vehicle integration and orbital insertion strategies
• Project management and earned value management experience
• Publications or patents in space-based radar technology
• Strong communication skills and ability to present to executive leadership and customers

Compensation

• Total Compensation (base and equity): $268,600 to $422,000 USD
• Base Salary: $198,000 to $297,000 USD
• Company stock as part of total compensation package
• Industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount on company stock
• Top-tier medical plans including HMO, PPO, and zero cost HDHP with HSA company contribution
• Dental and vision coverage
• Paid vacation, sick time, and 11 paid holidays
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
• Paid parental leave
• Disability and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers, complimentary snacks and beverages, and employee discounts

Working Conditions

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, with occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

ITAR Compliance

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including ITAR, employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or Commerce. For New Zealand office applicants, you must be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by ITAR and hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a NATO country, with no ineligible dual citizenship.