Antenna Systems Engineer - Hardware Lead

Northwood; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space is hiring a Lead Hardware Development Engineer in California to drive the antenna system from architecture through deployment. You will own multi-disciplinary hardware development, collaborate across mechanical, electrical, RF, embedded software, and manufacturing teams, and deliver field-ready solutions for satellite missions.

We expect 3+ years of hands-on hardware experience, strong systems thinking, and a proven ability to translate mission objectives into robust requirements

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience developing complex hardware, antenna systems, RF products, aerospace systems, or multi-disciplinary technology.
• Strong systems-thinking ability and experience managing technical interfaces and tradeoffs across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Hands-on experience building, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting physical hardware systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical development and execution of a Northwood antenna system or major subsystem from concept through production and deployment.
• Translate product, customer, and mission needs into system requirements, architectures, interfaces, performance budgets, and verification plans.
• Coordinate development across mechanical, electrical, RF, antenna, embedded software, thermal, manufacturing, test, supply chain, and field operations.
• Build and manage development schedules, technical milestones, critical-path dependencies, and risk-mitigation plans.
• Lead system-level trade studies across antenna performance, structural design, power, thermal behavior, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and deployment speed.
• Drive prototype builds, system integration, test campaigns, root-cause investigations, and production-readiness reviews.
• Contribute directly to design, analysis, prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting within your primary engineering discipline.
• Provide clear updates to engineering leadership on progress, risks, decisions, and resource needs.

Skills

Systems thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Aerospace/RF/Systems Engineering

Tools

RF test equipment

Job description

Northwood Space is hiring a Lead Hardware Development Engineer in California to drive the antenna system from architecture through deployment. You will own multi-disciplinary hardware development, collaborate across mechanical, electrical, RF, embedded software, and manufacturing teams, and deliver field-ready solutions for satellite missions.

We expect 3+ years of hands-on hardware experience, strong systems thinking, and a proven ability to translate mission objectives into robust requirements