(Fastwater Staffing) SAR Payload Systems Engineer - Fully Remote

Hikinex; Sacramento (CA); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hikinex is seeking a SAR Payload Systems Engineer to own the definition, design, integration, verification and sustainment of SAR payload subsystems across several Earth-observation satellites. Fully remote from the US is now accepted.

Responsibilities include system architecture, verification planning, test automation, and mission-support activities, with a focus on RF front-end, beamforming, and processing chains.

Qualifications

• Strong technical writing and presentation skills.
• Hands-on systems integration and test experience.
• Experience with Confluence and JIRA.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• US citizen or permanent resident preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and own SAR payload subsystems across satellite programs from requirements to verification.
• Design SAR payload architecture including antenna arrays, RF front-end, digital beamforming, and power/thermal management.
• Lead trade studies, performance budgets, ICDs, and review schematics/layouts.
• Conduct simulations for tolerance budgeting and image quality; support algorithm development.
• Develop payload verification master plan and lead test automation and reporting.
• Support mission operations including payload health monitoring and anomaly analysis.

Job description

Our client is hiring a SAR Payload Systems Engineer to support current and next-generation Earth-observation satellites. You will own the definition, design, integration, verification and sustainment of SAR payload subsystems across several satellite programs and act as the technical interface with customers, primes and internal teams. Fully remote from the US is now accepted.

What you will do

• Gather and trace payload requirements from mission level down to subsystem level
• Design the SAR payload architecture: antenna arrays and RF front-end Tx/Rx, digital beamforming, processing chain and digital electronics, power, thermal, mass
• Lead conceptual, preliminary and detailed design with trade studies and performance budgets; produce ICDs; specify hardware and review schematics and layouts
• Performance simulations for tolerance budgeting and image quality; support SAR and moving-target-indication algorithm development; payload DC power budget; FMECA, fault tree, FDIR, reliability
• Build the payload verification master plan (unit, subsystem, payload, environmental and EMC tests); lead test automation and reporting
• Support mission operations: payload health monitoring, on-orbit anomaly root cause, telemetry analysis, operator training

What you need

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or Physics with 5+ years supporting remote sensing system development, integration and test on LEO/MEO missions
• Strong technical writing (requirements, ICDs, test procedures, risk reports) and presentation skills
• Hands-on systems integration and test experience; Confluence and JIRA
• Works well with little supervision; strong written and spoken English (French an asset)
• US citizen or permanent resident