RF Systems Engineer - Spacecraft Communications

Approach Venture; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Approach Venture in Golden, CO is seeking an RF Systems Engineer to own the wireless architecture for autonomous spacecraft assembly. This hands-on role covers RF communications, antennas, embedded software, and link performance, from design to flight qualification.

You will work with flight software, avionics, and hardware teams, perform RF testing with VNAs, develop link budgets, and ensure regulatory compliance. Competitive compensation includes equity options.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
• Strong RF, wireless communications, or antenna background
• Antenna fundamentals: impedance matching, VSWR, patterns, polarization
• Hands-on RF testing with a VNA
• RF link budgets and validating against measurements
• Wireless PHY/MAC knowledge (e.g., 802.11)
• Embedded Linux experience
• Ability to own a multidisciplinary RF subsystem in a fast-moving environment
• Eligible to work with export-controlled spacecraft technology

Responsibilities

• Own the spacecraft RF and wireless communications architecture from design through qualification and flight
• Develop vehicle-to-vehicle and space-to-ground links, with link budgets and performance requirements
• Lead antenna selection, trade studies, development, integration, tuning, and testing
• Perform hands-on RF testing using VNAs and lab equipment
• Coordinate chamber testing and evaluate radiation patterns, polarization, and installation effects
• Calibrate radio hardware across embedded Linux systems and maintain firmware data
• Develop wireless networking between multiple spacecraft and dynamic routing across links
• Improve network throughput, latency, and reliability in multi-node environments
• Support environmental qualification including thermal vacuum, vibration, and radiation testing
• Define RF spectrum and regulatory configurations for orbital operation

Skills

RF Engineering

Antenna Design

VNA

Embedded Linux

RF Link Budgets

Wireless Communications

Export Compliance

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Vector Network Analyzer

Job description

RF Systems Engineer - Own the wireless architecture for autonomous spacecraft assembly

Golden, Colorado | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join a recently funded space technology startup developing autonomous spacecraft designed to connect, coordinate, and assemble larger structures in orbit. The company is moving from development toward flight demonstrations and is growing its engineering team around a highly integrated spacecraft platform. As the company\'s primary RF Systems Engineer, you will have end-to-end ownership of the spacecraft wireless architecture. You will lead RF communications across vehicle-to-vehicle and space-to-ground links, including radios, antennas, embedded software, link performance, and wireless networking. This is a hands-on role with significant technical autonomy and direct responsibility for taking the RF system from architecture and hardware development through qualification and flight.

About Us

We are an early-stage, venture-backed space company developing modular spacecraft technology for autonomous operations and assembly in orbit. The team recently closed a seed financing round and is expanding quickly as the platform progresses toward flight testing and initial operational systems. Engineers work across disciplines and have substantial ownership over the systems they develop.

Job Duties

• Own the spacecraft RF and wireless communications architecture from initial design through qualification and flight
• Develop vehicle-to-vehicle and space-to-ground communication links, including link budgets and performance requirements
• Lead antenna selection, trade studies, custom development, integration, tuning, and installed-performance validation
• Perform hands-on RF testing using VNAs and other laboratory equipment
• Coordinate antenna chamber testing and evaluate radiation patterns, polarization, matching, and structural installation effects
• Bring up and calibrate radio hardware across embedded Linux systems
• Own radio firmware, drivers, configuration, and hardware-specific calibration data
• Develop and characterize wireless networking between multiple spacecraft
• Support dynamic routing between wireless spacecraft links and wired connections after vehicles physically connect
• Measure and improve network throughput, latency, reliability, and multi-node performance
• Support environmental qualification including thermal vacuum, vibration, and radiation testing
• Define and maintain RF spectrum and regulatory configurations for orbital operation
• Work closely with flight software and avionics engineers on data interfaces, carrier electronics, coax routing, and antenna mechanical integration

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field
• Strong RF, wireless communications, or antenna engineering background
• Solid understanding of antenna fundamentals including impedance matching, VSWR, radiation patterns, polarization, and installed performance
• Hands-on experience using a vector network analyzer
• Experience developing RF link budgets and validating assumptions against measured hardware performance
• Strong understanding of wireless communications at the PHY and MAC layers, including 802.11 or comparable technologies
• Comfortable working with embedded Linux systems
• Ability to independently own a multidisciplinary RF subsystem in a fast-moving development environment
• Eligible to work on export-controlled spacecraft technology under applicable U.S. regulations

Preferred Experience

• Linux wireless architecture, drivers, mac80211, or wpa_supplicant
• Spacecraft RF systems or satellite communications
• Antenna design, PCB antennas, or electromagnetic simulation using tools such as HFSS, CST, or openEMS
• Anechoic chamber testing and installed antenna characterization
• Mesh, ad-hoc, or multi-node wireless networking
• Dynamic routing protocols
• Spacecraft environmental qualification including thermal vacuum, vibration, or radiation
• Pub/sub communication architectures or middleware such as DDS
• RF spectrum planning or regulatory coordination for space systems

Why Join Us

• Serve as the primary RF engineer with ownership of a critical spacecraft subsystem
• Shape the RF architecture while the platform is still early in its development
• Work directly across spacecraft hardware, embedded software, networking, and flight systems
• Join shortly after a seed financing round as the engineering organization scales
• Help take hardware from development and laboratory testing through qualification and flight
• Equity participation through stock options
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Short- and long-term disability insurance and life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Three weeks of paid vacation
• 10 or more paid holidays annually

Compensation Details

$140,000 - $170,000