RF Phased Array Engineer II Verified today
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, and expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The Space Systems Team
Our Space Systems team builds complete spacecraft, precision payloads, and subsystems including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios. We have enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration to national security and defense. We've built spacecraft and payloads for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
The Role
Based at Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, you will be responsible for the development of new RF products and systems, including Rocket Lab's phased arrays, and assessment of COTS components. You will model and simulate antenna performance for current programs and proposals, working at both component and system level.
What You'll Do
Product Development
- Support end-to-end efforts including architecture design, prototyping, integration, test, and flight development
- Ensure key design decisions are aligned with product and system needs
- Model and simulate array performance
- Work alongside interdisciplinary teams of RF, digital, power, mechanical, thermal, and structural engineers
- Support transition from new product introduction to production
- Interface with vendors and customers
- Develop test plans and procedures for active antennas, including EIRP and G/T measurement
- Design and develop GSE and production automation
- Support development of product documentation including ICDs and User Manuals
Customer and Program Support
- Support proposals and requirements specifications to assess compliance based on existing capabilities vs development needs
- Implement development activities for new requirements
- Support engineering reviews such as PDRs, CDRs and TRRs
- Provide technical support to internal and external customers for general questions and anomaly troubleshooting
- Maintain awareness of product development and production schedules to ensure customer and program needs are satisfied
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Communications, or equivalent qualification
- 2 or more years of relevant RF experience
- Fundamental RF knowledge including link budget analysis and linearity
- Solid theoretical and practical understanding of RF communications and navigation systems and components
- Basic knowledge of antenna and array modeling
- Ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance
Nice to Have
- Extensive experience in space-grade system design
- Extensive experience in worst case, reliability, FMECA, thermal, and derating analyses
- Extensive experience supporting and leading complex engineering programs and documentation
- Experience designing, integrating, and testing RF communications systems for launch vehicles or satellites
- Demonstrated expertise in mentoring others
- Experience leading incident management and investigations
- Experience in conflict resolution
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Project management experience
Compensation and Benefits
Total compensation (base and equity): $110,875 to $143,625 USD annually. Base salary: $10,800 to $126,000 USD. Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.
Benefits include company stock as part of total compensation, an Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount, medical plans (HMO, PPO, zero-cost HDHP with 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, 401(k) with company match, subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers where available, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on merchandise, and various other employee discounts.
ITAR and Export Control
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, employees in U.S. offices must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted as a refugee or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or Department of Commerce.
For candidates in New Zealand offices: Background checks will be undertaken prior to employment offers. You must be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by ITAR. You may be ineligible if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a NATO country, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.
Working Conditions
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.