RF Integration Team Lead

Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Healthcare

401(k)

On-site meals

Job summary

Astranis Space Technologies Corp. is seeking a Team Lead for RF Integration in our SF Bay area, to build and mentor a production RF test team for spacecraft payloads.

You will oversee RF test cells, DF testing strategies, and cross-functional processes to ensure flight hardware meets performance metrics before launch. You will lead design-for-test, automate data capture with Python, and partner with RF Design, Mechanical, and Environmental Test teams to drive improvements while managing budgets

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years in fast-paced hardware product development or production.
• Proven track record in building and mentoring engineering teams.
• Strong DFT and test automation mindset for complex hardware.
• Ability to summarize dense RF/systems topics for leadership and teams.
• Experience building engineering/operational processes from scratch.
• US Citizenship or Permanent Residency is required.
• Ability to work 5 days a week in office.

Responsibilities

• Hire, develop, and lead a world-class team of RF test engineers.
• Oversee design and implementation of hardware test racks and DT testing.
• Develop Python-based automation to interface with flight hardware and RF test equipment.
• Stand up cross-functional processes for RF test requirements and validation.
• Collaborate with RF Design, Mechanical, and Environmental Test teams to drive design improvements.
• Manage budgets, schedules, and performance to meet milestones without sacrificing quality.

Skills

Team leadership

DFT mindset

RF knowledge

Executive communication

Test automation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Electrical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

Tools

VNA

Spectrum Analyzers

Python/C++

Job description

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity's reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe - large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military.

With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.

Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world's best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Team Lead - RF Integration

As the Production RF Integration Team Lead, you will build, mentor, and guide a high-performing team of engineers dedicated to the assembly, integration, and testing (AI&T) of Astranis spacecraft payloads and RF sub-assemblies. This role bridges the gap between RF design and flight-ready production. You will oversee the development of RF test cells, design-for-test (DFT) strategies, and cross-functional processes that ensure our communication satellites meet rigorous performance metrics before launch.

This role requires a unique blend of deep technical RF knowledge & intuition, agile program management, and people-first leadership.

Role

• Hire, develop, and lead a world-class team of RF test engineers. Cultivate a culture of technical excellence, safety, and continuous learning.
• Oversee the design and implementation of hardware test racks, leveraging both COTS equipment and custom PCBAs to measure complex RF signals, apply flight-like loads, and power units under test.
• Drive the development of Python-based automation software to interface with flight hardware, RF test equipment (VNAs, spectrum analyzers), and enterprise data systems for seamless data capture.
• Stand up and scale cross-functional business processes for RF test requirements capture, test development, and rigorous test validation.
• Partner closely with RF Design, Mechanical Integration, and Environmental Test teams to channel test insights back into design improvements
• Manage budgets, schedules, work plans, and performance requirements to ensure production milestones are met without sacrificing quality

Requirements

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in a fast-paced hardware product development or production environment
• Proven track record of building, managing, and mentoring engineering teams, with a knack for delegation and team building
• Strong Design-for-Test (DFT) and test automation mindset, specifically tailored to complex hardware
• Exceptional ability to synthesize and summarize dense, highly technical RF and systems topics for both executive leadership and cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated ability to build engineering and operational processes from scratch
• US Citizenship or Permanent Residency (Green Card) is required
• Ability to work 5 days a week in office

Bonus

• Direct experience with RF test and measurement equipment (Vector Network Analyzers, Spectrum Analyzers, Noise Figure Meters, Signal Generators).
• Proficiency in Python or C++ for test automation and data analysis.
• Familiarity with the space environment, aerospace hardware integration, and test flows (TVAC, Vibration, EMI/EMC).
• Experience managing a mixed team of both engineers and technicians in a production environment.
• Knowledge of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and digital communication systems

What we offer:

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis's total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary

$160,000—$180,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.