RF Systems Engineer

Impulsespace; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Impulse Space in Redondo Beach is seeking an RF Systems Engineer to own top-level RF system architecture for radio communications, ranging, and positioning systems. Define the roadmap for future radio programs, drive cross-team alignment, and maintain documentation of link budgets and mission-specific hardware.

You will collaborate with RF, Avionics, mechanical engineers and others to meet system needs across a wide range of capabilities and missions, including up to 32 GHz radios, GNSS

Qualifications

• 2+ years professional experience with RF components or systems.
• Experience in development of RF link budgets including antenna patterns, atmospheric modeling, link availability.
• Demonstrated ability in system architecture design for a high-reliability application.
• Proficiency with RF lab equipment such as spectrum analyzers and VNAs.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate RF system development to ensure alignment across mechanical, thermal, electrical RF, software, manufacturing, and supply chain.
• Lead system-level trades involving transmitters, receivers, antennas, RF mechanical, power, thermal, reliability, and manufacturing.
• Provide updates to engineering leadership on progress, risks, trade studies, and development timelines.
• Own the technical roadmap, including progress and timelines for Impulse’s future RF systems.
• Work with business development to translate customer and mission needs into RF system requirements, architectures, and interfaces.
• Maintain organization of RF system components, interfaces, and link budgets across Impulse’s portfolio of customers and missions.
• Interface with avionics engineers to define digital and power interfaces for RF devices.
• Work with regulatory team to develop compliant RF systems and license Impulse’s designs.

Skills

RF system knowledge

Link budgets

System architecture design

RF lab equipment

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

HFSS

ADS

CST

STK

Job description

RF Systems Engineer

Department: Avionics

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Redondo Beach

Reporting To: Jake Messner, Director, RF & EMC

Compensation: $115,000 - $140,000 / year

Description

As an RF Systems Engineer, your core responsibility will be to own top-level RF system architecture for all radio communications, ranging, and positioning systems at Impulse. You will define the roadmap for future radio programs, drive cross-team alignment, and maintain documentation of link budgets and mission-specific hardware. You will work with RF engineers, Avionics engineers, mechanical engineers, and others to meet communication system needs across a wide range of capabilities and missions. You’ll work with uplink and downlink radios up to 32GHz, GNSS receivers, ranging radios, desense, coexistence, and antennas.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate RF system development to ensure alignment across mechanical, thermal, electrical RF, software, manufacturing, and supply chain
• Lead system-level trades involving transmitters, receivers, antennas, RF mechanical, power, thermal, reliability, and manufacturing
• Provide updates to engineering leadership on progress, risks, trade studies, and development timelines
• Own the technical roadmap, including technical progress and timelines, for Impulse’s future RF systems
• Work with business development to translate customer and mission needs into RF system requirements, architectures, and interfaces
• Maintain organization of RF system components, interfaces, and link budgets across Impulse’s portfolio of customers and missions
• Interface with avionics engineers to define digital and power interfaces for RF devices
• Work with regulatory team to develop compliant RF systems and license Impulse’s designs

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related technical field
• 2+ years professional experience with direct ownership of RF communication components or systems
• Experience in development of RF link budgets including antenna patterns, atmospheric modeling, link availability, and RF transmitter and receiver characteristics
• Demonstrated ability in system architecture design for a high-reliability application
• Proficiency in common RF lab equipment such as spectrum analyzers and VNAs
• Familiarity with EM concepts of RF transmitters, RF receivers, antennas, and transmission lines
• Experience designing for and proving compliance with spectral emissions masks or similar regulatory requirements

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Familiarity with RF modeling tools such as HFSS, ADS, CST, or STK
• 2+ years of experience writing automation scripts for RF hardware test
• Proven experience working in aerospace communication links
• Experience working with high-performance GNSS receivers and GNSS simulators
• Experience with common RF protocols like SRS4, DVB-S2, and CCSDS
• Prior architectural design of L-Band, S-Band, X-Band, or Ka-Band hardware
• Familiarity with space environmental effects such as radiation, surface charging, plasma, multipaction, etc
• Familiarity with satellite spectrum licensing laws, agencies, and standards
• RF hardware debugging skills

Additional Information

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan. Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.

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