Lead RF Systems Engineer, Launch Vehicle Avionics

Relativity; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 263,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity

Generous PTO and sick leave

Parental leave

Learning and development stipend

Job summary

Relativity Space seeks an senior RF systems engineer to own Terran R RF systems and drive system‑level trades. You will develop end‑to‑end link budgets for telemetry, command, and video, and define the vehicle RF frequency plan across all flight phases.

You will lead antenna placement and coverage trades using pattern simulations and trajectory analysis, supporting multiple RF hardware developments and mentoring junior engineers.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of RF systems engineering experience on launch vehicles, spacecraft, missiles, or comparable flight systems.
• Strong command of RF system fundamentals, including link budgets, antenna theory, interference, and EMI/EMC requirements (e.g., MIL-STD-461/464).
• Proven ability to lead technical work across disciplines and mentor other engineers
• Hands‑on experience with RF test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, and EMI receivers
• Proficiency with full-wave EM simulation tools such as HFSS, FEKO, or CST, and with Python or MATLAB for analysis and automation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior technical generalist and owner for Terran R vehicle RF systems, leading system-level trades and analyses driving the overall RF architecture.
• Develop and maintain end-to-end link budgets for telemetry, command, and video across all flight phases, and define the vehicle RF frequency plan.
• Lead antenna placement and coverage trades using installed-pattern simulation and trajectory-driven analysis.
• Support multiple radio and RF hardware developments including: requirement generation, design review, and leading integrated RF testing and anomaly investigations.
• Set analysis standards for the RF team and mentor junior RF engineers as they grow into independent owners.

Skills

RF systems engineering

Link budgets

Antenna theory

EMI/EMC

Leadership

Mentoring

RF testing equipment

HFSS

FEKO

CST

Python

MATLAB

Education

Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field

Tools

HFSS

FEKO

CST

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Relativity Space seeks an senior RF systems engineer to own Terran R RF systems and drive system‑level trades. You will develop end‑to‑end link budgets for telemetry, command, and video, and define the vehicle RF frequency plan across all flight phases.

You will lead antenna placement and coverage trades using pattern simulations and trajectory analysis, supporting multiple RF hardware developments and mentoring junior engineers.