Lead RF Engineer - Datalinks & Flight RF Systems

Astra Core-X; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Life insurance

Short/Long-Term Disability

401(k) with company match

Bonus eligibility

Job summary

Astra CoreX, Inc. seeks a Lead RF Engineer to architect and own RF communication and sensing systems for next-generation launch vehicles.

You will drive end-to-end RF design across L-band, S-band, and Ka-band with emphasis on low power and SWaP-optimized hardware for high-dynamics flight platforms. You will mentor engineers, define interfaces to flight computers and telemetry, and work with systems, avionics, and software teams to ensure robust end-to-end architectures and verifiable performance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent with RF/Microwave emphasis.
• 8–12+ years of experience designing, implementing, and testing RF systems for aerospace/defense.
• Experience with L-band, S-band, and Ka-band communication channels and RF hardware.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, design, and analysis of RF systems (L/S/Ka bands) for missile interceptor communications, telemetry, and sensing.
• Design and develop low power, SWaP-optimized RF front ends, transceivers, and antennas for compact flight platforms.
• Own RF datalinks, including link budgets, modulation/coding, and robust performance in contested environments.
• Define RF interfaces to flight computers and telemetry systems, including signal chains and timing.
• Lead lab bring-up and verification of RF boards using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, and oscilloscopes.
• Collaborate with systems and software teams for end-to-end communication architectures.

Skills

RF/Microwave Engineering

L-band experience

S-band experience

Ka-band experience

Low power SWaP RF hardware

Datalinks and link budgets

RF lab measurement skills

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

RF/Microwave Engineering

Tools

VNA

Spectrum Analyzer

Signal Generator

Oscilloscope

Power Meter

Job description

Astra CoreX, Inc. seeks a Lead RF Engineer to architect and own RF communication and sensing systems for next-generation launch vehicles.

You will drive end-to-end RF design across L-band, S-band, and Ka-band with emphasis on low power and SWaP-optimized hardware for high-dynamics flight platforms. You will mentor engineers, define interfaces to flight computers and telemetry, and work with systems, avionics, and software teams to ensure robust end-to-end architectures and verifiable performance