RF Regulatory Engineer

Northwood; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood is seeking a Regulatory Affairs Engineer in Torrance, CA to lead end-to-end regulatory engineering for global system operation. You will perform RF and spectrum analyses, craft licensing-ready inputs, and collaborate with regulators, engineers, and partners to enable market access.

This role sits at the intersection of RF engineering, policy, and systems integration. You will own simulations, licensing engagements, and regulatory documentation, coordinating across engineering, legal,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
• Experience in a system design, manufacturing, design, or test engineering role.
• Experience in MATLAB, Python, C++ or other tools for modeling and analyzing RF systems.

Responsibilities

• Perform RF interference, spectrum sharing, and satellite coordination analyses.
• Develop simulations considering regulatory constraints, RF link budgets, and network growth.
• Translate analyses into regulatory recommendations to support customer capture and business development.

Skills

System design

RF modeling

Python

MATLAB

C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree (preferred) in engineering/space policy

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C++

Job description

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

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

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space 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.