Principal RF Engineer I

CesiumAstro; Westminster (MD); On-site; USD 142,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health, dental, vision

HSA

FSA

Life and disability insurance

Retirement plans

Job summary

CesiumAstro is seeking a Principal RF Engineer I to lead RF electronics design across full life cycle for satellite, aerospace and airborne platforms. You will design RF circuits, modules and systems, perform detailed schematic and PCB work, and contribute to phased array development including beamformers, frequency converters and antennas.

The role requires extensive hands-on lab experience with VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, and strong communication skills for

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university.
• MS is preferred.
• Minimum of 9 years of RF design experience.
• Proficiency with CST, ADS and Altium.
• Hands-on experience with lab instruments such as VNA, spectrum analyzers and oscilloscopes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• RF circuits, modules and systems through all phases of development, from concept to in-orbit support.
• Board-level schematic design and PCB layout of RF circuits and systems.
• Work on phased array components: front ends, converters, synthesizers, filters, beamformers and antennas.
• Mentor junior engineers and present design review materials to customers and leadership.

Skills

RF electronics design

Schematic design

PCB layout

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Master of Science (MS) desired

Tools

CST

ADS

Altium

Vector network analyzers

Spectrum analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Job description

_ Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro , we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individual to join our team as a Principal RF Engineer I. The ideal candidate has extensive experience inboard-level and system-level RF electronics design . If you enjoy working in a startup environment and are passionate about developing leading-edge phased arrays for satellites, spacecraft, and aerospace systems, we would like to hear from you.

In this position, you will be responsible for RF circuits, modules, and systems through all phases of the development process. The ideal candidate will be proficient in board-level schematic design and PCB layout of RF circuits, system-level communications concepts such as link budgets and modulation schemes, and end-to-end RF product development. The work will include many aspects of phased array communication systems, including RF front ends, frequency converters and synthesizers, filters, beamformers, power dividers, and phased array antennas.

As a principal hardware team member, you will be responsible for RF system and hardware designs from initial concept through requirements definition, architecture definition, part selection, detailed design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, qualification, and in-orbit support of Cesium’s products. Hardware design tasks will include block diagrams, detailed schematics, PCB layout and routing, simulations, and test design. Principal Engineers also serve as technical and professional mentors in their field and may be given the opportunity to lead company programs.

The successful candidate will also present engineering design review materials to our customers and executive team, as well as participate in proposal‑writing efforts. As such, excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

Successful candidates will require:

• Bachelor of Science (BS)) degree in Electrical Engineering (EE) from an accredited university or institution. Master of Science (MS) desired.
• Minimum of 9 years of industry experience in design and analysis of RF electronics and systems.
• Expert-level proficiency in professional simulation tools such as CST and ADS, as well as EDA tools such Altium.
• Extensive hands‑on experience with lab instruments such as vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and oscilloscopes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred experience includes:

• Python or other programming languages.
• Aerospace electronics design, development, and qualification.
• Worst‑case circuit analysis, failure method and criticality analyses, and reliability analysis.
• Antenna design
• EMI/EMC design and mitigation techniques.

$142,000 - $189,500 a year

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full‑time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard torace, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.