RF Communication System Architect

CesiumAstro; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 228,000 - 279,000; Full time

Job summary

CesiumAstro is seeking a seasoned Communication Systems Architect to lead end-to-end solutions for space and airborne platforms. You will partner with Product, Business Development, and Engineering to translate missions into complete, differentiating architectures spanning antennas, RF, digital processing, and software.

Successful candidates bring 15+ years in complex communications, deep domain expertise, and the ability to drive technical capture, proposals, and transition to execution in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or related technical discipline.
• 15+ years of experience developing complex communication systems, products, or payloads with demonstrated progression into system architecture or technical leadership roles.
• Demonstrated deep technical expertise in at least one communications domain, such as communication theory, RF/microwave systems, antennas/beamforming, high-speed digital/DSP, or embedded software.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end technical solutions. Serve as the primary technical architect for customer pursuits, owning the complete communication system solution from mission needs through architecture, requirements, proposal, and transition to execution.
• Define communication system architectures. Develop architectures spanning antennas and apertures, RF front ends, frequency conversion, data conversion, digital processing, beamforming, modems and waveforms, firmware, software, networking, and external system interfaces as applicable to the mission.
• Lead from technical depth with system breadth. Apply deep expertise in a core technical discipline while integrating and making informed decisions across the other engineering domains required to deliver the complete system.
• Translate mission needs into solutions. Work directly with customers and Business Development to understand mission objectives, CONOPS, performance needs, and constraints and translate them into differentiated technical solutions.
• Lead architectural trades. Drive system-level decisions and trade studies across performance, SWaP, cost, schedule, technical maturity, risk, scalability, product reuse, and Make/Buy alternatives.
• Shape product strategy. Identify opportunities to leverage existing products and technologies, influence future product capabilities, and determine where new development is required to meet emerging customer and market needs.
• Lead technical capture and proposals. Develop the technical solution for pursuits and provide the architecture, requirements, technical approach, trades, risks, development strategy, and technical content required for competitive proposals and customer presentations.

Skills

System architecture

Technical leadership

RF/antenna concepts

Digital signal processing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics

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 looking to add a highly skilled Communication Systems Architect to our team. In this position you will be a senior technical leader responsible for defining complete, differentiated communication system solutions for customer missions and new business pursuits. The Architect serves as the primary technical owner of the solution, translating mission and customer needs into an end‑to‑end architecture spanning antennas, RF electronics, digital processing, communications algorithms, firmware, software, and system interfaces. Successful candidates will bring deep expertise in one or more communications disciplines—such as communication theory and signal processing, RF systems, antenna and phased-array systems, digital communications and processing, or communications software—combined with the technical breadth and systems perspective necessary to lead the complete solution. Working closely with Product, Business Development, Program Management, and Engineering, the Architect leads technical solution development from early customer engagement through capture, proposal, contract definition, and transition to execution. The role requires the ability to move beyond a specific technical specialty, make system‑level trades, and establish an architecture that balances mission performance, product strategy, technical risk, cost, schedule, and execution.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end technical solutions. Serve as the primary technical architect for customer pursuits, owning the complete communication system solution from mission needs through architecture, requirements, proposal, and transition to execution.
• Define communication system architectures. Develop architectures spanning antennas and apertures, RF front ends, frequency conversion, data conversion, digital processing, beamforming, modems and waveforms, firmware, software, networking, and external system interfaces as applicable to the mission.
• Lead from technical depth with system breadth. Apply deep expertise in a core technical discipline while integrating and making informed decisions across the other engineering domains required to deliver the complete system.
• Translate mission needs into solutions. Work directly with customers and Business Development to understand mission objectives, CONOPS, performance needs, and constraints and translate them into differentiated technical solutions.
• Lead architectural trades. Drive system-level decisions and trade studies across performance, SWaP, cost, schedule, technical maturity, risk, scalability, product reuse, and Make/Buy alternatives.
• Shape product strategy. Identify opportunities to leverage existing products and technologies, influence future product capabilities, and determine where new development is required to meet emerging customer and market needs.
• Lead technical capture and proposals. Develop the technical solution for pursuits and provide the architecture, requirements, technical approach, trades, risks, development strategy, and technical content required for competitive proposals and customer presentations.
• Establish the technical baseline. Define system-level requirements, interfaces, performance allocations, verification approaches, and preliminary designs necessary to establish a credible and executable technical baseline.
• Support program formation and contract definition. Partner with Product Development & Assurance and Program Management to develop Statements of Work, requirements, technical deliverables, assumptions, development plans, and Make/Buy strategies that accurately reflect the proposed solution.
• Transition solutions into execution. Serve as the technical bridge from pursuit to execution, ensuring engineering teams understand the architecture, requirements, key trades, risks, customer commitments, and technical rationale behind the solution.
• Provide technical leadership. Guide multidisciplinary engineering teams across RF, antenna, digital, FPGA, software, mechanical, systems, integration, and test disciplines without needing to be the subject matter expert in every domain.
• Represent the technical solution with customers. Communicate complex architectures, technical decisions, performance trades, and risks clearly to customer technical leaders, internal executives, and engineering teams.

Job Requirements And Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• 15+ years of experience developing complex communication systems, products, or payloads, with demonstrated progression into system architecture or technical leadership roles.
• Demonstrated deep technical expertise in at least one communications domain, such as:
• Communication theory, signal processing, waveforms, or modem design
• RF and microwave systems and electronics
• Antennas, phased arrays, and beamforming
• High-speed digital, FPGA, DSP, or digital communications architectures
• Embedded, networking, or communications software
• Demonstrated experience architecting or technically leading multidisciplinary systems beyond the candidate’s primary area of expertise.
• Experience translating customer or mission objectives into system architectures, technical requirements, and executable engineering solutions.
• Demonstrated experience leading customer‑facing technical discussions, design reviews, proposals, or new‑business pursuits.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with space, airborne, defense, or other high‑reliability communication systems is preferred, particularly involving satellite communications, phased arrays, software‑defined radios, digital beamforming, advanced waveforms, or integrated communication payloads.
• Experience taking architectures beyond concept development into detailed design, integration, verification, qualification, and deployment is highly valued.
• The strongest candidates will combine recognized depth in a technical specialty with demonstrated ability to operate above that specialty as an end‑to‑end system architect and technical leader.

$228,000 - $279,000 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 to race, 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. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.