RF Regulatory Engineer

Northwood Space; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A space communications company is seeking a Regulatory Affairs Engineer in Torrance, CA. This hands-on position focuses on RF engineering and regulatory compliance, engaging internal teams and government entities to ensure market access. The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's degree in engineering, has experience with RF systems, and is proficient in MATLAB, Python, or C++. This full-time role is on-site, offering the chance to work within a fast-paced, impactful environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline required.
• Experience in system design or test engineering is a plus.
• Proficient in MATLAB, Python, C++, or similar tools for RF analysis.

Responsibilities

• Perform RF interference and spectrum sharing analyses.
• Engage with U.S. and international regulators for compliance.
• Draft and submit licensing materials to regulatory entities.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

C++

Project management

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline

Master's degree in an engineering, physical science, or space policy discipline

Tools

RF systems modeling tools

Job description

Location

Torrance, CA

Employment Type

Full time

Location Type

On-site

Department

Legal

About Northwood Space:

Northwood is on a mission to transform connectivity between earth and space and bring the benefits of space to the masses through innovations in space communications technologies. If you are energized by building at a high-velocity company and seeing your work deployed in locations around the globe with real impact, we want you at Northwood.

Role:

Northwood is looking for a Regulatory Affairs Engineer to help design, analyze, and execute the technical work that enables our systems to operate globally. In this role, you’ll own regulatory engineering efforts end-to-end: performing RF and spectrum analyses, translating technical constraints into licensing‑ready inputs, and working closely with internal engineering teams, regulators, and external partners to support market access and compliance. This is a highly hands‑on role at the intersection of RF engineering, policy, and systems integration, ideal for someone who enjoys turning complex regulatory constraints into clear, executable paths that unlock real‑world deployment.

Responsibilities:

Simulations and Analysis

• Perform technical analysis related to RF interference, spectrum sharing, and satellite coordination

• Develop and run simulations considering regulatory and geographic constraints, RF link budgets, Northwood network growth, customer expansion, coordination strategies, etc.

• Translate technical analyses into strategic regulatory recommendations in support of customer capture and business development efforts.

Licensing Engagement

• Engage with U.S. and international regulators (FCC, DoD, NASA, NOAA, and others) regarding existing licenses, new applications, and ongoing compliance activities

License arrangement

• Support regulatory compliance and certification activities across Northwood programs, operating as a technical integrator across engineering, growth, legal, and government affairs.

• Draft, manage, and submit licensing, coordination, and permitting materials to the relevant regulatory entity and/or coordinating party.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline

• Experience in a system design, manufacturing, design, or test engineering role (internships and project experience are applicable)

• Experience in MATLAB, Python, C++ or other tools for modeling and analyzing RF systems

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Master's degree in an engineering, physical science, or space policy discipline

• Understanding of satellite hardware and orbital mechanics

• Project management skills, including organizing information, concisely communicating within a team and excellent time management abilities

• Experience coordinating across responsible engineers and technical areas

• Able to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with other engineers, managers, and U.S. Government agencies

• Excellent communication and writing skills, and the ability to succinctly present information and assessments

• Highly self‑motivated with strong organizational skills – able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high‑pressure environment with ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work

• Ability to quickly grasp knowledge of a diverse range of hardware and analyses that go into making Northwood missions reliable and successful

• Project management skills, including organizing information, concisely communicating within a team and excellent time management abilities