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Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior RF Phased Array Engineer to lead the development of RF products and systems at their Long Beach headquarters. This role is the technical lead responsible for designing, prototyping, integrating, testing, and delivering RF phased array systems for space applications.
Key responsibilities include:
Product Development: Lead end-to-end development efforts from architecture design through flight qualification. Model and simulate antenna and phased array performance. Lead cross-functional teams including RF, digital, power, mechanical, thermal, and structural engineers. Transition products from development to production. Develop test plans for active antennas including EIRP and G/T measurements. Design ground support equipment and production automation. Create technical documentation including ICDs and user manuals.
Customer & Program Support: Drive proposal assessments and requirements specifications. Scope development activities for new customer requirements. Support engineering reviews (PDRs, CDRs, TRRs). Provide technical support to internal and external customers. Maintain awareness of development and production schedules.
Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or RF communications with 5+ years of relevant experience. Strong RF fundamentals including link budget analysis and linearity. Solid understanding of RF communications and navigation systems. Experience modeling and simulating antenna/phased array performance. Deep knowledge of interference effects on systems. Proven experience developing and delivering RF systems from requirements through space-worthy production.
Desired qualifications: Space-grade system design experience. Expertise in worst-case, reliability, FMECA, thermal, and derating analyses. Experience supporting complex engineering programs. RF system design and testing for launch vehicles or satellites. Mentoring experience. Incident management and investigation leadership. Conflict resolution skills. Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
Rocket Lab builds rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems for space missions. The Space Systems team has enabled over 1,700 missions including interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security initiatives, working with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
