Rocket Lab USA
Senior RF Engineer II - Radar
East Long Beach, Los Angeles County · Senior
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odds of building a lasting career here
Sponsors, but it's cap-subject — you still face the weighted lottery (~61% per draw at Level IV). Good if you win; have a cap-exempt backup on your list.
Lottery odds assume a STEM candidate.
Personalize to your clock →H-1B wage level
the lottery is wage-weighted — each level is one more entry
This range already reaches Level IV — the maximum four lottery entries.
DOL prevailing wage, 2026-27 wage year · Electrical Engineers (17-2071) · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. Wage level is derived by USCIS from the offered wage, occupation and worksite; the occupation shown is inferred from the job title.
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About the role
- Based at Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, we are looking for a Senior RF Engineer II - Radar/RF who will be responsible for the technical development of radar and RF systems including SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) and space-based radar applications. You will drive radar system architecture, oversee RF component integration, and support
- hands-on radar testing and calibration. The successful candidate will have a strong combination of radar engineering, RF systems design, and spacecraft systems experience, and will thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field
- 8+ years of relevant experience
- Hands-on experience with space-based radar systems including system integration and mission operations, including imaging modes, processing, and performance assessment
- Strong understanding of orbital mechanics and spacecraft systems including how orbit parameters affect radar performance
- Proficiency with radar simulation tools and orbital analysis software
- Experience with radar testing including range measurements and RF performance characterization
- U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements
Nice to have
- Existing DoD TS/SCI clearance
- Knowledge of advanced SAR techniques (GMTI, InSAR, polarimetry) for space platforms
Skills
- Analyze mission requirements including orbit selection, ground track patterns, and revisit characteristics
- Assess and integrate COTS RF components for space-qualified radar transmit/receive chains
- Interface with multidisciplinary teams including RF, digital, mechanical, thermal, structural, and software engineers
- Review proposals and requirements specifications for space-based radar payload opportunities
Compensation
- $174k-$270k
Visa & Work Authorization
- citizenship is required due to program requirements
This listing is sourced directly from Rocket Lab USA's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.