Lead RF Manufacturing Engineer

Impulse Space; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision & dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Impulse Space is seeking a Lead RF Manufacturing Engineer in Redondo Beach to lead and mentor a team of RF manufacturing engineers, owning RF manufacturing across the company. You will guide the writing of work instructions for RF circuit boards, antennas, and filters, and drive processes that improve rate, quality, and reliability of RF hardware for space applications.

The role requires a Bachelor's in a related field, 6 years RF manufacturing experience, and 3 years in a leadership role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field.
• 6 years RF manufacturing experience, preferably in high-reliability environments.
• 3 years in a people management role with mentoring experience.
• Strong understanding of RF manufacturing processes and materials.
• Experience with RF PCBAs, antennas, filters, and RF passives.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and lead a team of RF manufacturing engineers and provide mentorship.
• Guide manufacturing teams in writing instructions for RF PCBs, antennas, filters, and inspections.
• Implement processes to improve rate, quality and reliability of RF production.
• Develop ATP and testing for RF boards and passives, including functional environmental testing.
• Review test logs, troubleshoot failures, and perform small software/configuration changes as needed.
• Collaborate with design engineers to ensure manufacturability and support PDR/CDR reviews.
• Aim to optimize production rate, yield, and cost of RF hardware production.
• Ensure timely delivery of RF hardware to Integration.

Skills

RF manufacturing leadership

Mentoring

Process improvement

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Test engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Python

X-ray/CT inspection

AOI

Flying probe

Job description

Lead RF Manufacturing Engineer

Department: Avionics

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Redondo Beach

Compensation: $140,000 - $180,000 / year

Description

As a Lead RF Manufacturing Engineer at Impulse Space, you will provide leadership and mentorship to a team of RF manufacturing engineers. You will own RF manufacturing across the company for all our products. Your leadership will directly impact the performance and reliability of all vehicles we send into orbit.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and lead a team of RF manufacturing engineers, including providing mentorship and developing the team
• Provide guidance to a team of manufacturing engineers on writing work instructions for RF circuit boards, antennas, filters, inspection and acceptance testing
• Implement processes to streamline the manufacturing process while improving rate, quality and reliability
• Build up acceptance testing (ATP) capability of RF circuit boards and passives, including functional, performance, acceptance, and environmental testing
• Support existing automated test systems by reviewing test logs and results, troubleshooting failures, and making small software or configuration changes as needed
• Lead the effort in collaborating with design engineers to ensure manufacturability and provide input in PDR and CDR reviews
• Lead the effort to optimize production rate, yield and cost of RF hardware production
• Ensure timely delivery of RF hardware to Integration
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in RF manufacturing to drive innovation

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors' degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related field
• 6 years of demonstrated RF manufacturing experience (or related field), preferably in a high-reliability environment
• 3 years of experience in a people management role
• Strong track record of and commitment to developing and mentoring people
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes and materials used in RF manufacturing
• Experience with testing RF PCBAs, antennas, filters and other passives

Preferred Skills and Experience

• MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related field
• Experience with RF manufacturing for space applications
• Experience with RF PCBA inspection techniques, such as X-ray/CT, AOI, flying probe, etc
• Experience with RF PCBA functional testing (software and firmware) and environmental testing for space applications (thermal cycling, vibration, thermal vacuum)
• Experience with automated test environments using Python or similar tools, including ability to understand existing test automation, troubleshoot failures, and make targeted changes is strongly desired
• Experience reviewing automated test logs, measurement data, and software output to identify whether failures originate in the test system or the hardware under test
• Experience with PCB/PCBA manufacturing, soldering processes, connectors, conformal coating, mechanical integration, or electromechanical assemblies
• Experience with environmental qualification and acceptance testing for spaceflight electronics
• Experience working closely with technicians in a fast-paced production environment and independently driving hardware and test issues to root cause

Additional Information

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Impulse Space's spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.