Lead RF Payload Engineer, Space-to-Ground LEO (Equity)

Lumex Talent; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 255,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Lumex Talent seeks a Principal RF Payload Lead Engineer to drive end-to-end architecture, design, and on-orbit performance of space-based RF payloads for D2D connectivity over LEO. Lead phased-array design, RF link budgets, and system integration across RF, digital, and software teams.

Responsibilities include OTA testing, verification planning, and alignment with 3GPP NTN standards, with leadership over external suppliers and mission operations support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical or Aerospace Engineering with RF focus.
• 8-10+ years of RF systems engineering experience.
• Experience designing, modeling, calibrating, and testing phased-array or electronically steered antennas.
• End-to-end lifecycle experience: requirements through flight delivery.
• Proficiency in RF simulation/EM solvers and RF test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Define RF payload architecture for space-to-ground D2D services.
• Lead design and optimization of electronically steered array antennas and beamforming.
• Manage end-to-end RF link budgets, Doppler compensation, and interference analysis.
• Define payload-to-bus interfaces spanning power, thermal, structural, EMI/EMC, and ICD management.
• Lead payload integration, OTA testing, and environmental qualification.
• Collaborate to ensure compatibility with 3GPP NTN standards and terrestrial integration.
• Provide technical direction to multidisciplinary teams and oversee suppliers.
• Support on-orbit commissioning and performance monitoring.

Skills

RF systems engineering

Phased-array design

Beamforming

RF simulation

EM solvers

VNA

Spectrum analyzers

Leadership

D2D/LTE-NTN knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

VNAs

Spectrum analyzers

Job description

Lumex Talent seeks a Principal RF Payload Lead Engineer to drive end-to-end architecture, design, and on-orbit performance of space-based RF payloads for D2D connectivity over LEO. Lead phased-array design, RF link budgets, and system integration across RF, digital, and software teams.

Responsibilities include OTA testing, verification planning, and alignment with 3GPP NTN standards, with leadership over external suppliers and mission operations support.