Director, Radar Payload
Rocket Lab · Long Beach, CA · 3 wk ago
On-siteOTHR$269k/yrFull-time
We need to output only HTML fragment, using for section headings like About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Skills, Benefits, Pay, Schedule. We must not repeat job title as heading. Must include sections only when posting has real specific content. We need to parse the posting.
The posting includes:
- About Rocket Lab (company description) – could be "About the role"? Actually "About Rocket Lab" is company overview. Could be "About the role"? The instruction: use
for section headings like About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Skills, Benefits, Pay, Schedule. We must not repeat job title as heading. Must include sections only when posting has real specific content. We need to parse the posting.
The posting includes:
- About Rocket Lab (company description) – could be "About the role"? Actually "About Rocket Lab" is company overview. Could be "About the role"? The instruction: use for section headings (e.g. About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Skills, Benefits, Pay, Schedule). So we can use headings like "About the role" for description of role? But we have "About Rocket Lab" and "SPACE SYSTEMS" description. Might treat as "About the role" (overview of role and team). We'll include a section "About the role" with paragraphs summarizing Rocket Lab and Space Systems team and the Director, Radar Payload role.
- Responsibilities: The "What You'll Get To Do" section includes sub-sections: System Leadership & Development, Technical Leadership, Customer/Program Support. Those are responsibilities. We'll put them under a Responsibilities
with - items for each bullet? The content includes paragraphs under each subheading. We could treat each subheading as a list item? Probably better to list each responsibility as
- with the description. We'll need to preserve all substantive info.
- Requirements/Qualifications: There's "You'll Bring These Qualifications" and "These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have". Those are required and preferred qualifications. We'll have a
Requirements
for required qualifications, and maybe a Preferred Qualifications
but the instruction only lists certain headings; but we can still use "Qualifications" as heading and include both required and preferred? The instruction says use headings e.g. About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Skills, Benefits, Pay, Schedule. So we can have "Requirements" and "Qualifications" separate? Might be redundant. Probably we should use "Requirements" for required qualifications and "Qualifications" for preferred? But they said "Prefer a few substantive sections over many thin ones." Could combine required and preferred under "Qualifications". However they also list "Requirements" as a possible heading. I'd include both: "Requirements" for required, "Preferred Qualifications" maybe not in list but we could still use "Qualifications" for preferred. But to follow instruction, we should only use headings from the list; but we can also add others? It says "use for section headings (e.g. About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Skills, Benefits, Pay, Schedule)." The e.g. suggests those are examples, not exclusive. But safer to stick to those. We'll have sections: About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Benefits, Pay. Schedule not present. Skills maybe not separate; we could embed skills in Requirements.
We need to include Pay: posting includes "Total Compensation (base and equity): $268,600 USD - $422,000 USD Base Salary: $198,000 USD - $297,000 USD". Also mentions equity grant value etc. So we can create a Pay section with that info.
Benefits: posting includes comprehensive benefits list: Employee Stock Purchase Program, medical plans, dental, vision, paid vacation, sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending, dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) with match, additional perks: subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on merch store, variety of other employee discounts. We'll put that in Benefits.
We must not include boilerplate like EEO, legal, etc. Also remove duplicated lines, navigation, cookie, etc. Also remove "Important Information" sections about ITAR, equal employment, etc. Also remove "What To Expect" maybe? That's more culture; could be considered part of About the role? Might be considered boilerplate? It's not exactly boilerplate but it's generic culture description. Might be okay to include under About the role? The instruction: remove cookie/navigation/legal/EEO/equal-opportunity/scam-warning boilerplate, duplicated lines, and application instructions. "What To Expect" is not exactly those; it's about culture. Could keep as part of About the role? Might be okay.
We also need to preserve all substantive information; do not invent or summarize away detail. So we need to keep details like responsibilities bullet points exactly as given (maybe paraphrasing? Must preserve all substantive information; we can keep the sentences but we can format as list items. Must not omit details.
Let's extract sections.
**About the role**: We'll combine Rocket Lab overview, Space Systems description, and the role description (Director, Radar Payload). We'll produce a paragraph or two.
**Responsibilities**: We'll list each bullet from "What You'll Get To Do". There are three main categories each with multiple bullet points. We'll flatten into list items.
Let's copy the responsibilities text:
System Leadership & Development
- Lead the end-to-end development of space-based radar payload systems including architecture design, prototyping, integration, test, and flight development – Ensure key design decisions and developments are in alignment with product / system needs
- 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 the development of radar calibration procedures and image quality assessment methodologies for spaceborne systems
- Direct the 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 the 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 for radar efforts including RF, digital, mechanical, thermal, structural, and software engineers
- Drive innovation in space-based radar payload design and performance optimization
- Support the 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/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
We'll put each bullet as
- .
**Requirements**: 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 is required due to program requirements
- Ability to obtain and maintain a TS / SCI clearance
We'll list as
- .
**Qualifications** (nice-to-have): list those.
- 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
We'll list as
- .
**Benefits**: list as
- each benefit.
From text:
- Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock)
- top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant 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
- a 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Additional perks include subsidized EV charging
- onsite fitness centers (where available)
- discounted gym memberships
- complimentary snacks and beverages
- 50% employee discount on our popular merch store
- and a variety of other employee discounts
We'll list each as
- .
**Pay**: include total compensation and base salary ranges, also mention equity grant value description.
Text: "Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company."
Then later: "Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Total Compensation (base and equity): $268,600 USD - $422,000 USD Base Salary: $198,000 USD - $297,000 USD"
We'll include that info.
We must not include headings for Pay if not present? It is present.
Schedule: not present, so omit.
Now produce HTML fragment: only the HTML, no markdown fences.
We'll start with
About the role
then ...
. Then Responsibilities
...
. Then Requirements
...
. Then Qualifications
...
. Then Benefits
...
. Then Pay
...
or . Probably use
for
Responsibilities
with- items for each bullet? The content includes paragraphs under each subheading. We could treat each subheading as a list item? Probably better to list each responsibility as
- with the description. We'll need to preserve all substantive info.
- Requirements/Qualifications: There's "You'll Bring These Qualifications" and "These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have". Those are required and preferred qualifications. We'll have a
Requirements
for required qualifications, and maybe aPreferred Qualifications
but the instruction only lists certain headings; but we can still use "Qualifications" as heading and include both required and preferred? The instruction says use headings e.g. About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Skills, Benefits, Pay, Schedule. So we can have "Requirements" and "Qualifications" separate? Might be redundant. Probably we should use "Requirements" for required qualifications and "Qualifications" for preferred? But they said "Prefer a few substantive sections over many thin ones." Could combine required and preferred under "Qualifications". However they also list "Requirements" as a possible heading. I'd include both: "Requirements" for required, "Preferred Qualifications" maybe not in list but we could still use "Qualifications" for preferred. But to follow instruction, we should only use headings from the list; but we can also add others? It says "usefor section headings (e.g. About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Skills, Benefits, Pay, Schedule)." The e.g. suggests those are examples, not exclusive. But safer to stick to those. We'll have sections: About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Benefits, Pay. Schedule not present. Skills maybe not separate; we could embed skills in Requirements. We need to include Pay: posting includes "Total Compensation (base and equity): $268,600 USD - $422,000 USD Base Salary: $198,000 USD - $297,000 USD". Also mentions equity grant value etc. So we can create a Pay section with that info. Benefits: posting includes comprehensive benefits list: Employee Stock Purchase Program, medical plans, dental, vision, paid vacation, sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending, dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) with match, additional perks: subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on merch store, variety of other employee discounts. We'll put that in Benefits. We must not include boilerplate like EEO, legal, etc. Also remove duplicated lines, navigation, cookie, etc. Also remove "Important Information" sections about ITAR, equal employment, etc. Also remove "What To Expect" maybe? That's more culture; could be considered part of About the role? Might be considered boilerplate? It's not exactly boilerplate but it's generic culture description. Might be okay to include under About the role? The instruction: remove cookie/navigation/legal/EEO/equal-opportunity/scam-warning boilerplate, duplicated lines, and application instructions. "What To Expect" is not exactly those; it's about culture. Could keep as part of About the role? Might be okay. We also need to preserve all substantive information; do not invent or summarize away detail. So we need to keep details like responsibilities bullet points exactly as given (maybe paraphrasing? Must preserve all substantive information; we can keep the sentences but we can format as list items. Must not omit details. Let's extract sections. **About the role**: We'll combine Rocket Lab overview, Space Systems description, and the role description (Director, Radar Payload). We'll produce a paragraph or two. **Responsibilities**: We'll list each bullet from "What You'll Get To Do". There are three main categories each with multiple bullet points. We'll flatten into list items. Let's copy the responsibilities text: System Leadership & Development - Lead the end-to-end development of space-based radar payload systems including architecture design, prototyping, integration, test, and flight development – Ensure key design decisions and developments are in alignment with product / system needs - 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 the development of radar calibration procedures and image quality assessment methodologies for spaceborne systems - Direct the 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 the 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 for radar efforts including RF, digital, mechanical, thermal, structural, and software engineers - Drive innovation in space-based radar payload design and performance optimization - Support the 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/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 We'll put each bullet as
- . **Requirements**: 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 is required due to program requirements - Ability to obtain and maintain a TS / SCI clearance We'll list as
- . **Qualifications** (nice-to-have): list those. - 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 We'll list as
- . **Benefits**: list as
- each benefit. From text: - Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock) - top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant 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 - a 401(k) retirement plan with company match - Additional perks include subsidized EV charging - onsite fitness centers (where available) - discounted gym memberships - complimentary snacks and beverages - 50% employee discount on our popular merch store - and a variety of other employee discounts We'll list each as
- .
**Pay**: include total compensation and base salary ranges, also mention equity grant value description.
Text: "Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.Join one of the world's fastest-growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package, giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company."
Then later: "Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Total Compensation (base and equity): $268,600 USD - $422,000 USD Base Salary: $198,000 USD - $297,000 USD"
We'll include that info.
We must not include headings for Pay if not present? It is present.
Schedule: not present, so omit.
Now produce HTML fragment: only the HTML, no markdown fences.
We'll start with
About the role
then...
. ThenResponsibilities
- ...
Requirements
- ...
Qualifications
- ...
Benefits
- ...
Pay
- ...
. Probably use
- for