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Rocket Lab is seeking an RF Phased Array Engineer to join its Space Systems team at the Long Beach headquarters. This role focuses on the development of RF products and systems, including phased array antennas, and evaluation of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components for space applications.
In this position, you will support end-to-end product development activities including architecture design, prototyping, integration, testing, and flight qualification. Key responsibilities include modeling and simulating antenna array performance, developing test plans for active antennas (EIRP and G/T measurements), and designing ground support equipment and production automation. You will work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams of RF, digital, power, mechanical, thermal, and structural engineers to ensure design decisions align with product and system requirements.
You will also support the transition of developments from new product introduction through production, interface with vendors and customers, and contribute to technical documentation including interface control documents and user manuals. On the customer and program side, you will support proposal development, assess compliance against existing capabilities, implement development activities for new requirements, and participate in engineering reviews (PDRs, CDRs, TRRs). You will provide technical support to internal and external customers, troubleshoot anomalies, and maintain awareness of product development and production schedules.
The role can be filled at either Engineer I or Engineer II level. Engineer I candidates should hold a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or RF communications with fundamental RF knowledge and basic antenna/array modeling skills. Engineer II candidates should have the same educational background plus 2+ years of relevant experience. Both levels require the ability to obtain TS/SCI security clearance. Nice-to-have qualifications include extensive space-grade system design experience, expertise in worst-case and reliability analyses, FMECA, thermal and derating analyses, and experience leading complex engineering programs.
