Senior Phased-Array RF Architect - SATCOM

Northwood Space; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 226,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space in Torrance, CA is seeking a Senior RF & Antenna Systems Engineer to define phased-array RF architectures for our satellite ground-station network and translate mission requirements into beamforming, calibration, and tracking specs.

You will collaborate across antenna, RF, DSP, mechanical, and software teams to ensure end-to-end link performance, assess EVM, BER, and link margin, and lead investigations of degraded G/T and EIRP.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience with phased arrays, antenna systems, RF communication or SATCOM terminals.
• Experience with link-budget analysis and RF performance metrics.
• Understanding of digital communications and RF impairment effects.

Responsibilities

• Define phased-array antenna and RF-system architectures for satellite ground stations.
• Translate mission and link requirements into aperture, RF front-end, beamforming, calibration, pointing, and tracking specs.
• Develop and maintain end-to-end SATCOM link budgets with measured RF performance.
• Analyze analog, hybrid, and digital beamforming with RF and digital teams.
• Assess how antenna impairments affect EVM, acquisition, BER/BLER, throughput, and link availability.
• Evaluate RF lineups for gain, noise figure, dynamic range, linearity, and isolation.
• Build models in Python, MATLAB to simulate array behavior and modem metrics.
• Lead cross-functional investigations of degraded G/T, EIRP, link margin, or spectral performance.
• Support regulatory submissions, spectrum coordination, and system deployment.

Skills

Phased arrays

Antenna systems

RF communication

SATCOM terminals

EIRP

G/T

Link budgeting

RF measurements

Calibration

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Electrical/Communications Engineering or Applied Physics

Tools

Vector network analyzers

Spectrum analyzers

Signal generators

Noise sources

Vector signal analyzers

Job description

Northwood Space in Torrance, CA is seeking a Senior RF & Antenna Systems Engineer to define phased-array RF architectures for our satellite ground-station network and translate mission requirements into beamforming, calibration, and tracking specs.

You will collaborate across antenna, RF, DSP, mechanical, and software teams to ensure end-to-end link performance, assess EVM, BER, and link margin, and lead investigations of degraded G/T and EIRP.