Principal Microwave Payload Systems Engineer

The Tomorrow Companies Inc.; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 200,000 - 215,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Unlimited paid time off

Relocation assistance

Job summary

The Tomorrow Companies Inc. is seeking a Principal Microwave Payload Systems Engineer in Golden, Colorado, to lead the design and development of next-generation microwave payloads for their satellite constellation programs. Your leadership will define technical requirements that enhance global weather intelligence capabilities.

With 10–15+ years of experience in developing complex microwave systems, you will shape foundational architectures and solve challenging engineering problems, contributing to impactful atmospheric sensing technologies.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of experience in microwave space-based sensing systems.
• Deep experience in microwave radiometry and RF architectures.
• Strong understanding of antenna systems and beam patterns.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture definition and execution of microwave payload systems.
• Translate atmospheric sensing objectives into requirements and strategies.
• Support integration, testing, and launch readiness of payload systems.

Skills

Microwave radiometry

RF system design

Calibration techniques

Signal processing

Systems engineering

Job description

Principal Microwave Payload Systems Engineer

Tomorrow.io is a leading weather intelligence and climate resilience platform helping organizations and governments make better decisions in a world of increasing weather volatility. By combining proprietary satellite technology, advanced AI forecasting models, and actionable analytics, Tomorrow.io delivers hyper‑local weather insights that protect lives, strengthen operations, and build climate resilience globally.

Our space program is core to this mission. We are building and operating a weather observation constellation powered by internally developed sensing technologies – transforming how atmospheric data is captured and used worldwide. Tomorrow.io’s Microwave Sounder constellation is changing the world and has demonstrated the ability to be a viable data source for the weather intelligence community (NOAA Validation) and we’re just getting started.

Tomorrow.io is seeking a Principal Microwave Payload Systems Engineer to lead the architecture, development, integration, and delivery of next‑generation space‑based microwave sensing payloads for our satellite constellation programs. This role serves as the technical authority for microwave payload systems, translating atmospheric measurement objectives into robust RF payload architectures, performance models, requirements, and verification strategies. You will work across engineering, program leadership, external partners, and atmospheric science teams to deliver high‑performance, mission‑ready sensing systems that will strengthen Tomorrow.io’s global weather intelligence capabilities. You will join a collaborative, high‑performing environment that values technical excellence, shared accountability, and the pursuit of ambitious, mission‑driven engineering goals.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the architecture definition, technical design, and execution of microwave payload systems across the full product lifecycle, from concept development through launch and on‑orbit operations
• Translate atmospheric sensing objectives into instrument‑level requirements, system architectures, interface definitions, and verification strategies
• Own system‑level radiometric performance modeling, including system noise temperature, sensitivity, calibration performance, and error budgets
• Conduct technical trade studies across microwave front‑end design, antenna systems, calibration approaches, digital signal processing architectures, and subsystem implementation options
• Guide integration of key microwave payload subsystems, including receivers, frequency generation, filtering, digitization, and data handling
• Define and lead calibration strategies to ensure payload performance meets atmospheric sensing and mission objectives
• Identify technical risks early, drive mitigation plans, and make informed technical decisions that balance performance, cost, schedule, and mission risk
• Support payload integration, environmental testing, verification, launch readiness, and on‑orbit operations
• Collaborate closely with internal engineering teams, program leadership, external partners, and atmospheric scientists to deliver mission‑ready payload systems
• Elevate systems engineering rigor, technical quality, and cross‑disciplinary alignment across Tomorrow.io’s space programs

What You Bring

• 10–15+ years of experience developing complex microwave space‑based sensing systems
• Deep experience in microwave radiometry, MW/RF receiver architectures, or atmospheric sounding instrumentation
• Expertise in RF system design including low‑noise amplifiers, frequency conversion chains, filtering, and digitization
• Experience modeling and analyzing radiometric performance, including noise temperature, sensitivity, calibration accuracy, and stability
• Strong understanding of antenna systems, beam patterns, polarization effects, and scan geometries
• Experience with calibration architectures (internal calibration targets, noise diodes, reference loads, or equivalent techniques)
• Experience leading assembly, integration, and test of MW hardware systems
• Familiarity with space environment impacts on MW/RF performance (thermal drift, radiation effects, stability)
• Proficiency with model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) or comparable structured systems approaches
• Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems and payload integration fundamentals
• Experience performing system‑level trade studies and identifying/mitigating technical risks
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multi‑disciplinary engineering and scientific domains, both internally and externally
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey technical topics clearly to diverse audiences
• Proven ability to make sound engineering judgments and operate effectively in dynamic, fast‑moving development environments
• Demonstrated integrity, transparency, and accountability in professional conduct
• A system‑level mindset that balances technical detail with overall mission execution
• Demonstrated ability to lead through technical credibility and cross‑functional influence

The Promise

Joining Tomorrow.io as Principal Microwave Payload Systems Engineer means:

• Make a measurable global impact – advance atmospheric sensing technologies that improve weather resilience worldwide
• Influence foundational architectures – shape the future of microwave‑based environmental sensing at Tomorrow.io
• Solve challenging problems – work at the intersection of MW/RF engineering, space systems, data platforms, and climate innovation
• Work in a mission‑driven environment – join a team that values purpose, technical excellence, and thoughtful execution

Benefits and Compensation

Salary range: $200,000–$215,000, subject to local market and candidate skills and experience. Comprehensive health benefits, unlimited paid time off, and other benefits included. Relocation assistance may be offered/available for certain roles.

Tomorrow.io is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other legally protected characteristics. Tomorrow.io participates in the E‑Verify program in all U.S. states, as required by law.