Senior Microwave Antenna Engineer — X‑Band SAR Lead

EVONA; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

EVONA is partnering with an early-stage space technology company to develop high-performance SAR satellites. They seek a Senior Microwave Antenna Engineer to own the complete antenna lifecycle from EM design through flight-ready hardware.

You will work hands-on across RF, electrical, software and spacecraft teams to deliver an X-band, electronically steerable antenna for next-generation SAR missions. The role emphasizes ownership of prototype build, integration and test, with relocation

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in microwave antenna, RF or EM hardware development.
• Proven ability to take antenna designs from concept through prototype and test.
• Experience with phased arrays or reconfigurable antenna technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of X-band microwave antennas for SAR applications.
• Design and optimise electronically steerable / reconfigurable antenna architectures, including antenna elements, feeds and RF hardware.
• Perform antenna and electromagnetic modelling using HFSS, CST, ADS or similar tools.
• Own RF hardware from schematic capture and component selection through PCB layout, fabrication and board bring‑up.
• Develop antenna, RF backend and supporting digital PCBs.
• Build, integrate and debug antenna/RF prototypes in the lab.
• Characterise antenna performance using VNAs, spectrum analysers and anechoic chamber testing.
• Develop antenna calibration, monitoring and test approaches.
• Work across RF, electrical, software and spacecraft engineering to integrate the antenna into the complete satellite.
• Support the transition from early prototypes into flight-ready and repeatable hardware.

Skills

Microwave antenna design

RF PCB design

EM simulation tools

Test & characterization

Tools

HFSS

CST

ADS

Job description

EVONA is partnering with an early-stage space technology company to develop high-performance SAR satellites. They seek a Senior Microwave Antenna Engineer to own the complete antenna lifecycle from EM design through flight-ready hardware.

You will work hands-on across RF, electrical, software and spacecraft teams to deliver an X-band, electronically steerable antenna for next-generation SAR missions. The role emphasizes ownership of prototype build, integration and test, with relocation