RF Test Engineer II

Inversion; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion is turning space into an on‑demand logistics platform by delivering payloads from LEO in under an hour. We seek an RF Test Engineer to verify and validate flight and ground RF/Telemetry systems within the Avionics team, driving test plans from benchtop validation to mission‑readiness verification.

You will join a multidisciplinary group reporting to the Director of Engineering, Avionics, contributing to test automation, integration, and rigorous data analysis across RF, antenna, DSP,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with RF emphasis required.
• 1–3 years RF test, measurement, validation, or integration experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance up to Top Secret.
• Hands-on RF test and measurement experience across components and systems.
• Proficiency with spectrum analyzers, VNAs, signal generators, scopes, meters.
• Experience with Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW for automation.
• Ability to develop test plans, procedures, and reports.
• Strong written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute RF test plans, procedures, and verification methods for components, subsystems, and integrated vehicle systems.
• Set up, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory test configurations for receiver, transmitter, and antenna validation.
• Measure and characterize RF performance including gain, insertion loss, return loss, noise figure, linearity, bandwidth, spurious response, dynamic range, and interference susceptibility.
• Perform RF test and measurement activities using spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, and power meters.
• Support integration, debugging, and troubleshooting of RF hardware in development environments.
• Collect, analyze, and document test data in formal reports and briefings.
• Coordinate with RF, antenna, DSP, FPGA, software, and electrical engineering teams during test activities.
• Improve test efficiency and data quality through automation using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW or similar.

Skills

RF test experience

Lab equipment proficiency

Test automation

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Security clearance

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

System integration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related RF field

Tools

Spectrum analyzers

Vector network analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Power meters

Multimeters

Power supplies

Job description

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Who We Are:

Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next‑generation capabilities from space. Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low‑Earth Orbit into an on‑demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach. Our spacecraft are designed to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. Inherently dual‑use, our technology meets urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Supported by investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, and partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA, Inversion pushes the boundaries of space‑based defense and logistics.

What You'll Do:

As an RF Test Engineer, you will verify, validate, integrate, and characterize flight and ground RF/Telemetry systems for Inversion’s next‑generation re‑entry vehicles. You will sit within the Avionics team and own the development and execution of RF test plans, taking systems from benchtop validation through integrated hardware testing and mission‑readiness verification.

You will be a key member of the Avionics team, reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, Avionics. Our engineers are responsible for the entire lifecycle of the hardware they support, including development, test, integration, and troubleshooting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute RF test plans, procedures, and verification methods for components, subsystems, and integrated vehicle systems.
• Set up, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory test configurations for receiver, transmitter, and antenna validation.
• Measure and characterize RF performance including gain, insertion loss, return loss, noise figure, linearity, bandwidth, spurious response, dynamic range, and interference susceptibility.
• Perform component‑, subsystem‑, and system‑level RF test and measurement activities using standard laboratory equipment (spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, power meters).
• Support integration, debugging, and troubleshooting of RF hardware in development, qualification, and test environments.
• Collect, analyze, and document test data in formal reports, summaries, and engineering briefings.
• Assist in verification of requirements and support qualification, acceptance, and environmental test campaigns.
• Coordinate closely with RF, antenna, DSP, FPGA, software, and electrical engineering teams during integration and test activities.
• Improve test efficiency, repeatability, and data quality through automation using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools.
• Support over‑the‑air and antenna test activities, including range setup and validation, as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related technical field with RF emphasis.
• 1–3 years of professional experience (or intensive academic/project experience) in RF test, measurement, validation, or integration.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance up to Top Secret.
• Hands‑on RF test and measurement experience for component, subsystem, and system‑level validation.
• Proficiency with common laboratory equipment (spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, power meters, multimeters, power supplies).
• Experience with RF test setup development, calibration, troubleshooting, and data collection.
• Familiarity with receiver/transmitter performance metrics (gain, noise figure, linearity, spurious response, bandwidth, dynamic range).
• Ability to develop test plans, test procedures, and formal test reports.
• Experience with test automation using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools.
• Understanding of integration issues across RF, digital, and embedded hardware systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical results clearly to multidisciplinary teams.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with antenna and over‑the‑air test methods.
• Familiarity with S-band and L-band communication or telemetry systems.
• Familiarity with aerospace and defense test and qualification standards (MIL‑STD‑810/461, DO‑160, SMC‑S‑016) as applied to RF and avionics hardware.
• Familiarity with S-parameters and their use in evaluating RF component and system performance.
• Experience supporting environmental qualification testing (EMI/EMC, vibration, thermal, shock, thermal vacuum).
• Knowledge of telemetry and range safety standards such as IRIG‑106 and common digital modulation schemes.
• Experience with automated data acquisition, test scripting, and post‑processing pipelines.
• Familiarity with fault isolation and root‑cause analysis for RF hardware failures in integrated systems.
• Experience working with RF systems in aerospace, spacecraft, launch vehicle, or other mission‑critical applications.
• Ability to support fast‑paced prototype development and integration efforts in small, highly collaborative teams.
• Prior experience in startups or small independent engineering teams.

Level II Consideration

Level II candidates should possess the applicable qualifications listed above, including 3–5 years of professional experience in RF test engineering, preferably in aerospace, defense, or other high‑reliability environments. The Level II compensation range is 106,000 - 150,000.

Location

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability.