Senior Microwave Antenna Engineer - Space / SAR

EVONA; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Relocation support

Benefits

Job summary

EVONA is partnering with an early-stage Space startup to develop a new generation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites. You will own the microwave antenna system from concept through hardware, prototyping and test, driving design decisions and delivering hardware ready for orbital flight.

The role requires 5+ years of hands-on experience in microwave antenna/RF engineering, with a track record of building antennas and arrays from scratch.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on microwave antenna / RF engineering experience.
• Must have designed antennas and antenna arrays from the ground up.
• Experience with phased arrays, electronically steered antennas, metasurfaces, reflectarrays or similar technologies.
• Strong electromagnetic simulation experience using HFSS, CST, ADS or similar.
• Microwave experience across bands such as X, Ku, K or Ka.
• Hands-on RF hardware / PCB experience including schematic capture, component selection, layout, prototyping and board bring-up.
• Strong laboratory experience with VNAs, spectrum analysers and anechoic chamber testing.

Responsibilities

• Own the design and development of electronically steerable X-band antenna technology from concept through hardware integration and test.
• Lead from EM design and simulation to RF/PCB hardware, prototyping, integration and test.
• Take ownership of the antenna system and influence major engineering decisions.
• Grow with the company as it scales; potential equity.

Skills

Microwave antenna engineering

Antenna array design

Phased arrays

EM simulation

Tools

HFSS

CST

ADS

VNA

PCB prototyping

Job description

Senior Microwave Antenna Engineer - Space / SAR

EVONA are partnered with an early-stage Space start-up developing a new generation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites.

They've spun patented antenna technology out of University research and are now moving from R&D into building the hardware that will fly. They're still a small team, meaning this isn't a role where you'll own one small piece of a subsystem - you'll have genuine ownership of the antenna system.

You'll lead the design and development of their electronically steerable X-band antenna technology, taking it from electromagnetic design and simulation through RF/PCB hardware, prototyping, integration and test.

As the company scales, there is significant opportunity for the role to grow with it.

The kicker ..... genuine ownership + meaningful equity in a company at the very beginning of its journey.

Not another role buried inside a prime working on one piece of a mature program. You'll be joining early enough to directly influence the technology, make key engineering decisions and see the hardware you design go from your desk to orbit.

They're looking for someone who wants the ambiguity and ownership that comes with an early-stage company - not just to analyse somebody else's antenna design, but to own it.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of hands-on microwave antenna / RF engineering experience
• Proven experience designing antennas and antenna arrays from the ground up
• Experience with phased arrays, electronically steered antennas, metasurfaces, reflectarrays or similar technologies
• Strong electromagnetic simulation experience using HFSS, CST, ADS or similar
• Microwave experience across bands such as X, Ku, K or Ka
• Hands-on RF hardware / PCB experience including schematic capture, component selection, layout, prototyping and board bring-up
• Strong laboratory experience with VNAs, spectrum analysers and anechoic chamber testing

Experience with SAR, radar, satellite payloads, space hardware, high-power RF or aerospace qualification would be particularly valuable.

Package: $140,000-$170,000 base + equity, benefits and relocation support.