Senior Communications Engineer

BlackSky; Tukwila (WA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

BlackSky seeks an engineer specializing in RF communications to enhance satellite communication systems. The role involves design, testing, and integration, requiring strong technical skills and experience in a fast-paced environment. Ideal candidates will lead projects effectively while ensuring systems meet military and commercial standards.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision insurance

15 days of PTO and 401(k) options

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Parental leave and volunteerism leave

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of technical experience in space operations.
• Understanding of EE fundamentals and RF communications systems.
• Familiarity with RF and Electrical Test Equipment.

Responsibilities

• Perform communications system design and analysis.
• Create test setups and procedures for RF systems.
• Interface with suppliers for subsystem procurement.

Skills

RF communications systems

Electrical design

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline

Job description

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

BlackSky is looking for an engineer with a strong background in RF communications to be a part of a multi-disciplinary team in the development of satellite communication systems. As part of the Communications Engineering team, you will be instrumental in engineering design, production and testing of our communication systems on our next gen satellites along with ground station compatibility. While primarily focused on spacecraft communications, you’ll be involved throughout the engineering lifecycle through design, integration, test, and ultimately the operation of satellites. This position is ideal for a candidate who possesses the eagerness and aptitude to adapt and extend traditional systems engineering and spacecraft development practices to an agile and low-cost environment.

You will be engaged in all aspects of satellite system and subsystem electrical design and test, with a focus on RF networks and satellite communication systems. You will use your understanding of electrical and RF communications principles and concepts to support the design and development of satellites through all phases of the product lifecycle. You’ll work directly with technical leadership and other members of a multi-disciplined team to develop and test microsatellite communications systems. You will architect and execute test plans to show functionality of these systems. Furthermore, you will also be responsible for interfacing with ground station providers and satellite end users to ensure system compatibility. This role will be based out of Tukwila, WA and will report to the Director of Ground and Communication Systems.

Responsibilities:

• As a member of the satellite communications system, you will be involved with performing communications system design and analysis, testing, debug, data analysis, and supporting flight hardware design.
• Perform functional analyses (link, power, throughput, etc.), detailed trade studies, and interface definition efforts to translate initial requirements into concepts and eventually detailed and qualified designs.
• Identify the necessary space-segment and ground-segment hardware necessary to accomplish payload and telemetry transmission over a wide range of mission CONOPS and orbital parameters.
• Create dedicated test setups, procedures for antenna checkout, radio peripheral checkout, cable/phasing network checkout, ground station compatibility tests, channel simulation tests, regulatory tests, and end to end full RF systems tests.
• Work hands-on with digital and analog RF equipment including radios, antennas, ADCs, and ground support equipment.
• Support production testers in the development and execution of test plans that ensure adequate testing of units and the complete system.
• Interface with supplier/vendors as needed to support subsystem procurement, design, development, and production.
• Collaborate among a multi-disciplinary engineering and production team to design and test satellite systems, subsystems, and components
• Support analyses and troubleshooting of in-orbit communication challenges and advise on operational Con Ops and performance.
• Manage competing priorities and manage individual tasks towards larger company and team objectives.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• A minimum of five years of technical experience, preferably in a space operations environment.
• Understanding of EE fundamentals/RF communications systems from a first principles perspective, including systems architecture, antennas, signal processing, and/or RF propagation.
• Familiarity with existing communications technology in aerospace and space industries.
• Experience developing and validating RF link budget system models.
• Knowledge of key parameters for Noise and Linearity for RF Systems and their impact on system performance.
• Familiarity with using RF and Electrical Test Equipment (e.g. oscilloscope, power meter, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, VNA, noise sources, etc.)
• Ability to develop of design documentation.
• Possess strong team and inter-team cooperation and organization skills, including team leadership experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong understanding of audience.
• Ability to multi-task within a startup, fast paced environment.
• Proven experience as a self-starter, that can work independently to manage complex projects from conception to completion.
• Must be a US Citizen.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with avionics and antenna installation, testing and maintenance.
• Understanding of radiation effects on electronics.
• Experience with requirements and verification database management tools (We use Jama, DOORS and others are also good experience to have).
• Knowledge of CCSDS communications standard and AES/GCM encryption.
• Experience with DVB-S2/S2X.
• Experience with test automation and efficient data processing (LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB).
• Experience writing software for data analysis and test conduct (python, MATLAB, bash, etc.) and developing test scripts to interface with hardware.
• Knowledge of RF licensing procedures or other RF regulatory experience.
• Ability to balance system level thinking with detailed problem solving.

Life at BlackSky for full-time benefits eligible employees includes:

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
  • BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Mac or PC? Your choice!
• Awesome swag

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $120,000 to $145,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.

BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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.

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Enter manually

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

LinkedIn Profile

Are you a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Person? 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. * Select...

Where are you located? *

How did you hear about this opportunity? *

Are you related to anyone affiliated with BlackSky? * Select...

Do you have at least eight years of technical experience, preferably in a space operations environment? *

This role is a hybrid position. Are you open to coming into our Tukwila, WA office? * Select...

What are your compensation expectations? Please do not put negotiable as we want to discern if we can meet your expectations. *

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in BlackSky’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305

Page 1 of 1

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 04/30/2026

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp .

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Short stature (dwarfism)
• Traumatic brain injury

Disability Status Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.