Principal RF Engineer, Space Systems & Antennas

Lunar Outpost; Golden (CO); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health coverage

3 weeks PTO annually

401(k) with up to 4% match

11 company holidays

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Job summary

Lunar Outpost seeks a Principal RF Engineer to lead RF systems work for space robotics programs. You will design, analyze, simulate, and validate RF subsystems for Ka/S/X-band communications, antennas, and payload links, with emphasis on mission performance and regulatory compliance.

The role requires extensive hands-on RF architecture experience, technical leadership, and strong documentation skills in a dynamic startup environment. Onsite schedule is Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri with remote Wednesdays.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of RF engineering experience with hands-on design, analysis and testing.
• Ability to define, execute, and document RF tests against requirements.
• Experience designing RF architectures and test equipment racks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; detail-oriented.
• U.S. Person status as required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME for RF systems; provide technical leadership and design reviews.
• Perform electromagnetic simulation/analysis for satellite and rover apps.
• Design, develop, and integrate Ka/S/X‑band RF subsystems per requirements.
• Conduct RF trade studies to inform design decisions.
• Build, integrate, and test RF hardware including antennas and payload links.
• Develop and execute RF/antenna test plans and simulations (VSWR, gain, patterns).
• Build and analyze space-to-Earth link budgets; assess co-site interference.
• Model RF performance using industry tools; document results in reports.
• Collaborate with RF team and program leadership on timelines and execution.

Skills

RF systems design

RF test equipment

RF analysis

RF simulations

Ka-band / S-band / X-band

Spacecraft comms

Systems architecture

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Tools

Ansys HFSS

Ansys EMIT

STK

Python

Spectrum analyzers

Network analyzers

Signal generators

Power meters

Job description

Lunar Outpost seeks a Principal RF Engineer to lead RF systems work for space robotics programs. You will design, analyze, simulate, and validate RF subsystems for Ka/S/X-band communications, antennas, and payload links, with emphasis on mission performance and regulatory compliance.

The role requires extensive hands-on RF architecture experience, technical leadership, and strong documentation skills in a dynamic startup environment. Onsite schedule is Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri with remote Wednesdays.