RF/Comms System Engineer (Mid)

Apex - Spacecraft Manufacturing; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in spacecraft manufacturing is seeking a talented spacecraft RF engineer to join their closely integrated team. This position offers the opportunity to design and develop innovative satellite communications systems, impacting the aerospace industry while benefiting from extensive company perks and a collaborative work environment.

Benefits

Equity in Apex

Comprehensive healthcare, dental, and vision plans

Generous PTO package

Competitive 401(k) plan with matching

Paid parental leave

Daily lunch and unlimited snacks

Community events and social activities

Ideal desk setup and productivity tools

Engaging coworkers and social events

Opportunity to impact the aerospace industry

Qualifications

• 3-6 years of spacecraft RF and telemetry communications experience.
• Extensive experience in spacecraft design, launch, and operation.
• Experience in integrated software/hardware verification and testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF, digital, and optical satellite communications systems.
• Perform analyses and simulations for space communication systems.
• Develop analysis tools using MATLAB.

Skills

RF systems design

Communications systems

Signal analysis

Interpersonal skills

Spacecraft design

Education

B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering

M.S. preferred

Tools

MATLAB

Job description

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society, ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We invite you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

Apex is seeking a talented spacecraft RF engineer to work on a closely integrated team, driving the design of hardware and software to meet the communication requirements of our bus. You will have the opportunity to approach this from a clean sheet design perspective and inform coupled trades across the vehicle architecture. You will be innovative in your approach to push the limits of design and performance, disrupting and making an impact on the industry.

Responsibilities:

1. Design and develop RF, digital, and optical satellite communications systems and spacecraft architectures.
2. Define and verify space communication system requirements and interfaces. Drive requirements for subcomponents and influence supplier selection.
3. Perform analyses and simulations for space communication systems, including link budgeting, analysis, signal distortion, system capacity, reliability, and performance.
4. Develop analysis tools using MATLAB and object-oriented software platforms.
5. Develop and verify system algorithms that meet functional and performance requirements.
6. Perform hardware procurement, integration, design reviews, and verification.
7. Work closely with other engineers to achieve overall system requirements.
8. Collaborate with payload customers to accommodate payload requirements.

Requirements:

1. U.S. Person status is required due to access to export-controlled data.
2. 3-6 years of spacecraft RF and telemetry communications experience.
3. Experience across multiple spacecraft programs.
4. B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering; M.S. preferred but not required.
5. Excellent interpersonal skills, effective within an organization, and able to communicate decisions and conclusions clearly to multiple audiences.
6. Extensive experience in spacecraft design, launch, and operation, including all phases of the development lifecycle.
7. Experience in integrated software/hardware verification and testing.

Salary Range: $140,000 - $180,000 per year. The stated range reflects the base salary and excludes additional benefits. We encourage you to apply regardless of whether your salary requirements fall within this range.

Benefits:

• Shared upside: equity in Apex to benefit from your work.
• Comprehensive healthcare, dental, and vision plans, with 99%+ coverage for primary and dependents’ premiums.
• Generous PTO package to reset and recharge.
• Competitive 401(k) plan with matching.
• Paid parental leave.
• Daily lunch and unlimited snacks.
• Community events such as monthly office BBQs, pickleball tournaments, a run club, and more.
• Your ideal desk setup, tools, and resources to maximize productivity.
• A world-class office in Playa Vista with engaging coworkers and social events.
• An opportunity to make a significant impact in the aerospace industry.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Apex Technology, Inc. celebrates diversity and is committed to an inclusive environment. We evaluate candidates and employees based on merit, qualifications, and performance, without discrimination based on race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other protected status.