RF Design Engineer

Rendezvous Robotics; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision & dental coverage

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Vacation & holidays

Job summary

Rendezvous Robotics, based in Golden, Colorado, seeks a senior RF engineer to lead the vehicle-to-vehicle wireless chain, antenna development, and RF measurement efforts for space-qualified systems.

The role requires 5+ years in RF/wireless, strong antenna fundamentals, and hands-on experience with VNA and embedded Linux. You will collaborate with flight software and avionics to deliver robust, flight-ready wireless capabilities.

Qualifications

• Senior level: 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Degree in electrical engineering with RF or wireless experience.
• Strong antenna fundamentals and radiation concepts.
• Hands-on RF measurement with VNA; anechoic chamber a plus.
• Proven RF link budget experience matched to measurements.
• Experience with 802.11 PHY/MAC and embedded Linux.

Responsibilities

• Develop the vehicle-to-vehicle wireless chain end-to-end.
• Perform link budgeting for space-to-space and space-to-ground.
• Design antennas from trade study to flight qualification.
• RF bring-up, kernel driver enablement, and radio firmware.
• Develop mesh routing and handoff to wired networks after docking.
• Measure performance: mesh throughput and latency.
• Collaborate with flight software and avionics teams.

Skills

RF engineering

Wireless protocols

Antenna theory

Embedded Linux

RF measurement

802.11 PHY/MAC

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

HFSS

CST

openEMS

VNA

Job description

Today, everything we send to space is constrained by what fits inside a rocket fairing. That's a fundamental bottleneck to building more capable spacecraft. Rendezvous Robotics is solving this problem with electromagnetic self-assembling tiles: modular spacecraft components that rendezvous, dock, and latch to assemble bigger and more powerful spacecraft than anything that can be folded to fit into a rocket.

We're a small team based in Golden, Colorado, executing on a clear path from flight demonstration to our first operational systems. Our work spans hardware, software, and systems engineering. We are looking for the best people in the world who want to build the next generation of advanced spacecraft.

Responsibilities & Ownership

• The vehicle-to-vehicle wireless chain: radio module, antennas, feed network, driver and firmware stack, and the mesh network, from architecture through qualification and flight
• Link budgeting (space-to-space and space-to-ground)
• Antenna development, from the current trade study through custom design, VNA tuning, chamber measurements against structural mock-ups, and flight qualification (thermal vacuum, vibration, radiation)
• Radio bring-up and calibration; you own kernel driver enablement in the OS image, the radio firmware and per-board calibration data (which is antenna-specific, so every antenna change is also your change), and the deliberate regulatory configuration for operating in orbit
• The network mesh; routing handled above the link layer so wireless peers and wired neighbors share one routing fabric, and the handoff to the wired network when vehicles dock
• Measured performance; mesh throughput, latency, and multi-peer behavior characterization
• The interfaces to both neighboring teams: flight software for the pub/sub traffic the link carries, and avionics for the carrier board, coax routing, and antenna mechanical integration.

Basic Qualifications

• [Senior level only] 5+ years of relevant experience
• Degree in electrical engineering or a related field, with RF or wireless experience to match your level
• Solid antenna fundamentals: matching and VSWR, radiation patterns, polarization, and how mounting structure changes installed performance
• Hands-on RF measurement: VNA work is required; anechoic chamber experience is a strong plus
• You've built an RF link budget and closed it against real measurements
• Real depth in 802.11 (or a comparable wireless standard) at the PHY/MAC level
• Comfortable in embedded Linux

Preferred Qualifications

• Linux wireless internals (mac80211, wpa_supplicant, driver bring-up)
• Spacecraft environmental qualification (thermal vacuum, vibration, radiation)
• PCB antenna design and EM simulation (HFSS, CST, openEMS)
• Mesh or ad-hoc networking and dynamic routing protocols
• Pub/sub middleware such as DDS; spectrum regulatory work.

Compensation and Benefits

Engineer: $95,000 - $140,000

Senior Engineer: $140,000 - $170,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. In addition to the base salary, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options. You will receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Equal Opportunity

Rendezvous Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Rendezvous Robotics is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.