Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer – RF & Communications

EVONA; Westminster (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Parental leave

Mental health resources

Tuition reimbursement

Student loan repayment

Certifications paid

Adoption assistance

Pet insurance

Professional development

Employee incentives

Job summary

EVONA is seeking a Mission Architect to translate customer objectives into executable satellite communications architectures. This hands-on technical leadership role will drive system-level decisions across spacecraft, payload, ground, and operations from concept to launch and on-orbit phases.

Responsibilities include RF architectures, link budgets, and performance analyses, as well as leading architecture decisions and mitigating risks.

Qualifications

• Translate customer objectives into executable mission and system architectures.
• Develop and evaluate RF communications architectures for satellite systems.
• Perform RF link budgets, performance analyses, and mission-level trades.
• Understand spectrum management and regulatory considerations.
• Collaborate across spacecraft, payload, ground, and operations teams.
• Communicate clearly in writing and speech; take ownership beyond role.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer objectives and operational needs into executable mission and system architectures.
• Develop and evaluate RF communications architectures for satellite systems.
• Perform RF link budgets, performance analyses, and mission-level communications trades.
• Evaluate coverage, throughput, latency, availability, resiliency, spacecraft resources, cost, and schedule.
• Lead architecture decisions across spacecraft, payload, ground, network, and operational systems.
• Assess spectrum and regulatory considerations, including FCC licensing and ITU coordination.
• Partner with customers, operators, engineers, program leaders, and business teams.
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Support programs through development, integration, testing, launch, and on-orbit operations.
• Help shape future mission concepts and communications strategies.

Skills

System architecture

RF link budgets

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Security clearance process

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering

Tools

RF test equipment

Job description

Mission Architect – Space Communications Systems

We are a mission-driven space technology company developing and operating advanced satellite systems for commercial and government customers.

We’re seeking a Mission Architect to turn customer objectives into executable satellite communications architectures. This hands-on technical leadership role will drive system-level decisions across spacecraft, payload, ground, and operations—from initial concept through launch and on-orbit operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate customer objectives and operational needs into executable mission and system architectures


• Develop and evaluate RF communications architectures for satellite systems


• Perform RF link budgets, performance analyses, and mission-level communications trades


• Evaluate coverage, throughput, latency, availability, resiliency, spacecraft resources, cost, and schedule


• Lead architecture decisions across spacecraft, payload, ground, network, and operational systems


• Assess spectrum and regulatory considerations, including FCC licensing, ITU coordination, frequency allocation, and interference mitigation


• Partner with customers, operators, engineers, program leaders, and business teams


• Identify technical and operational risks and develop practical mitigation strategies


• Support programs through development, integration, testing, launch, commissioning, and on-orbit operations


• Help shape future mission concepts, communications strategies, and follow-on architectures


• Provide technical leadership while remaining actively involved in implementation and execution

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline


• 7+ years of experience in satellite communications, space systems engineering, mission architecture, systems engineering, or a related technical leadership role


• Demonstrated experience developing and evaluating RF communications architectures for satellite systems


• Strong knowledge of RF link budgets, performance analysis, and communications-system trades


• Familiarity with LEO satellite communications architectures and operational concepts


• Working knowledge of RF transmitters and receivers, antennas, pointing systems, modems, and communications electronics


• Experience translating customer or mission objectives into practical system architectures


• Experience conducting architecture trades involving coverage, throughput, latency, availability, resiliency, spacecraft resources, and operational constraints


• Understanding of RF spectrum management, regulatory processes, frequency coordination, and interference considerations


• Ability to collaborate across spacecraft, payload, ground, operations, customer, and business teams


• Strong written, verbal, and technical communication skills


• Demonstrated ownership and willingness to work beyond traditional role boundaries when mission success requires it


• Ability to apply for and obtain a Top Secret U.S. government security clearance after hire

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a Mission Architect, Chief Systems Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or Communications Architect


• Direct experience with small-satellite or LEO constellation programs


• Experience with inter-satellite links, optical communications, or hybrid RF/optical architectures


• Experience supporting spacecraft through integration, testing, launch, commissioning, and on-orbit operations


• Knowledge of secure communications, encryption, and key-management concepts


• Familiarity with spacecraft command and data handling, telemetry, onboard networking, data routing, and storage


• Experience with mission modeling, simulation, or digital engineering environments


• Experience supporting commercial, civil, defense, or national-security space missions


• Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance


• Advanced degree in a relevant technical discipline

• comprehensive medical and dental coverage


• life and disability insurance


• a 401(k) with company matching


• generous paid time off


• paid parental leave


• mental-health resources


• tuition reimbursement


• student-loan repayment assistance


• paid certifications


• adoption reimbursement


• pet insurance


• professional development programs


• employee incentive opportunities