Senior Communications Systems Engineer – Satellite & NTN

Lever, Inc.; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

E-Space is seeking a Senior Communications Systems Engineer to join the Autonomous Flight Systems and Simulations Team. You will build high-fidelity models of spacecraft and space environments to support RF/PHY analyses and system-level simulations.

The role requires mastery of OFDM, MIMO, beamforming, and familiarity with 3GPP NTN specs. You’ll collaborate across PHY/MAC, RF design, firmware and mechanical teams, define test plans, and drive carrier-grade quality for future space IoT services.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years in wireless systems engineering focusing on RF/PHY and RAN architecture.
• Strong knowledge of 3GPP LTE/5G NR and NTN specs (Release 17/18+).
• Proficient in MATLAB, C/C++, or Python for modeling and simulation.
• Experience with OFDM, MIMO, and beamforming concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead RF link budget analyses and payload trade-offs for LEO payloads.
• Model channel propagation, antenna patterns, impairments, and interference mitigation.
• Analyze end-to-end network performance, optimizing KPIs under dynamic conditions.
• Collaborate with PHY/MAC, RF design, firmware, and mechanical teams for end-to-end integration.
• Define test plans and document specifications and architecture updates.
• Communicate project status and risks across teams.

Skills

RF/PHY

Signal processing

RAN architecture

OFDM

MIMO

Beamforming

3GPP standards

NTN specifications

Education

Master’s or PhD in Telecommunications or Electrical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

C/C++

Python

Job description

Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure and actionable? Then you’ve come to the right place!

E-Space is bridging Earth and space to enable hyper-scaled deployments of space-powered Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. We are fundamentally changing the design, economics, manufacturing, coverage limitations and service deliveryassociated with traditional satellite and terrestrial IoT systems.

By building a highly-advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system—with a unique antenna design, highly sustainable spacecraft system and low-cost, small portable end-user devices—we can extend global satellite coverage, capacity and connectivity beyond legacy space services to provide a new kind of IoT platform that lets users sense, track, connect and act on information gathered, anywhere.

We’re intentional, we’re unapologetically curious and we’re 100% committed to saving space, protecting our planet and turning connectivity into actionable intelligence.

As a Senior Communications Systems Engineer, you will be a critical member of the Autonomous Flight Systems and Simulations Team building highly accurate models of the spacecraft and space environments. You will enjoy large complex problems with multi-agent contributions to determine specific and probabilistic results. Your background will include either a first principles understanding of spacecraft guidance navigation and control mechanisms and forces, or radio frequency engineering and modeling.

Key Responsibilities

System Modeling & RF Analysis

• Lead comprehensive link budget analyses, RF line-up modeling, and payload trade-offs across RF and IF configurations for LEO satellite payloads.
• Model channel propagation, satellite antenna patterns, RF impairments, co-existence, and self-interference mitigation strategies.
• Analyze end-to-end network performance, optimizing system efficiency, capacity, latency, and overall network KPIs under dynamic operational conditions.

Cross-Functional Integration & Architecture

• Partner across multidisciplinary engineering teams—including PHY/MAC algorithms, RF design, digital beamforming, modem, firmware, and mechanical engineering to ensure end-to-end system integration.
• Deep-dive into component- and subsystem-level designs to establish performance targets, evaluate test results, and resolve test failures.
• Interface between wireless communications protocols and application endpoints to ensure seamless system and network-level operations.

Validation, Quality & Execution

• Define test plans, review hardware/software designs, and drive root-cause analysis for system-level issues to ensure carrier-grade product quality.
• Document technical specifications, expectations, and architecture updates for both internal engineering teams and external partners.
• Communicate project status, technical risks, and trade-off decisions clearly across development teams and management.

Basic Qualifications

• Education: Master’s or PhD in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of experience in wireless systems engineering, focusing on RF/PHY, signal processing, and RAN architecture.
• Standards & Protocols: Strong knowledge of 3GPP cellular standards (LTE, 5G NR, NB-IoT) and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) specifications (Release 17/18+).
• Technical Mastery: Deep understanding of OFDM, MIMO systems, beamforming, and wireless communication theory across both baseband and RF domains.
• Simulation & Tooling: Advanced proficiency in numerical modeling and simulation using MATLAB, C/C++, or Python.

Preferred Qualifications

• Satellite Systems: Proven experience with LEO satellite constellation link budgets, payload architecture, and satellite channel modeling.
• Protocol Stack Familiarity: Solid background in higher-layer RAN protocols, including RRC, RLC, PDCP, and NAS.

$150,000 - $200,000 a year

This is a full time, exempt position, based out of our Santa Clara, CA location.

E-Space is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role.

Why E-Space is right for you:

We want you to make the most of your journey at E-Space. That’s why we support and invest in the physical, emotional and financial well-being of our team members and their families. Some of what you can expect when working at E-Space:

An opportunity to really make a difference

Sustainability at our core

Fair and honest workplace

Innovative thinking is encouraged

Competitive salaries

Continuous learning and development

Health and wellness care options

Financial solutions for the future