Senior Ground Station Systems Engineer

Astranis Space Technologies; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity package

Healthcare

401(k) retirement planning

Flexible PTO

Free on-site meals

Job summary

Astranis is seeking a Senior Ground Station Systems Engineer to design, deploy, and operate satellite ground systems for commercial and U.S. Government programs.

You will bridge customer requirements, system architecture, and implementation across multidisciplinary teams. The role emphasizes RF engineering, DSP/modem/waveform concepts, and contributing to technical proposals, cost estimates, and customer-facing solutions, with up to 20% travel required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in satellite communications, ground systems engineering, RF engineering, or related disciplines.
• Strong understanding of RF fundamentals: link budgets, antenna systems, RF chains, modulation and coding techniques.
• Experience with RF test equipment and troubleshooting RF components.
• Ability to develop technical documentation and communicate complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• U.S. Government security clearance eligibility and willingness to travel up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and support satellite ground station architectures (antennas, RF systems, modems, networking, monitoring and control).
• Perform link budget analysis and assess system performance for GEO/MEO satellites.
• Develop technical requirements, interface definitions, and architecture diagrams.
• Collaborate with spacecraft, network, mission operations, and software teams for end-to-end performance.
• Contribute to commercial and USG proposals, RFIs, and white papers.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field

Job description

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.

Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Senior Ground Station Systems Engineer

Astranis is seeking a Senior Ground Station Systems Engineer to support the design, development, deployment, and operation of satellite ground systems across both commercial and U.S. Government programs. This role combines technical engineering with proposal and capture support, requiring an individual who can bridge customer requirements, system architecture, and implementation.

The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of RF communications, satellite ground infrastructure, and systems engineering principles, along with experience contributing to technical proposals, cost estimates, and customer-facing solution development. Experience with Digital Signal Processing (DSP), modem architectures, or waveform development is highly desirable.

This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys both developing satellite ground systems and shaping the technical solutions that win new business.

Role

• Design, develop, and support satellite ground station architectures, including antennas, RF systems, modems, networking, monitoring and control systems, and associated infrastructure.
• Perform link budget analysis and support system performance assessments for GEO and MEO satellite systems.
• Develop technical requirements, interface definitions, architecture diagrams, and system design documentation.
• Collaborate with spacecraft, network operations, mission operations, and software teams to ensure end-to-end system performance.
• Serve as a technical contributor for commercial and USG proposals, RFPs, RFIs, and white papers.
• Develop technical volumes, solution architectures, compliance matrices, and basis-of-estimate documentation.
• Support customer technical interchange meetings, design reviews, customer demonstrations and proposal presentations.
• Evaluate customer requirements and translate them into scalable, cost-effective ground segment solutions.
• Assist with technical risk assessments, schedule development, and cost estimation activities.
• Work closely with business development and program management teams during capture and pursuit activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field in engineering
• 5+ years of experience in satellite communications, ground systems engineering, RF engineering, or related disciplines.
• Strong understanding of RF communications fundamentals, including:
• Link budgets
• Antenna systems
• Amplifiers and RF chains
• Modulation and coding techniques
• Experience with RF electronics and communication systems including RF front-end equipment, back-end equipment, communication hardware, etc.
• Experience with antenna system design and operations including calibration, diagnostics, monitoring, etc.
• Experience using RF test equipment (spectrum analyzer and signal generator) and troubleshooting RF components
• Experience supporting technical proposals, bids, captures, or customer solution development.
• Ability to develop technical documentation and communicate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Willing and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• Strong project management skills and able to demonstrate a high sense of urgency
• Willing to travel 20% of the time
• Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position

Bonus

• Background in Digital Signal Processing (DSP), including modem design, waveform development, channelization, beamforming, or digital communications systems.
• Experience with FPGA-based signal processing platforms.
• Familiarity with GNU Radio, MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or SDR-based development environments.
• Knowledge of advanced SATCOM technologies including phased arrays, adaptive coding and modulation, and digital payload architectures.
• Experience with commercial and government proposals
• Familiarity with antenna control units and tracking systems
• Familiarity with spectrum management
• Familiarity with networking (Ethernet, IP, TCP)
• Comfortable scripting, preferably in Python

What we offer:

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary

$180,000-$240,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, Or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.