Senior RF/Comms System Engineer

Apex - Spacecraft Manufacturing; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex - Spacecraft Manufacturing is seeking a skilled Spacecraft RF Engineer to join our innovative team. You’ll design and develop advanced systems for satellite communications, ensuring effective communication solutions for our spacecraft. This role offers a unique opportunity to impact the aerospace industry positively through groundbreaking technology.

Benefits

Receive equity in Apex

Comprehensive healthcare, dental, vision plans

Generous PTO package

Competitive 401(k) plan and matching

Paid parental leave

Daily lunch and unlimited snacks

Community events: monthly BBQs, tournaments

Support for workspace setup

Modern office with social gatherings

Impact in the aerospace industry

Qualifications

• 5+ years of spacecraft RF and Telemetry communications experience.
• Experience across multiple spacecraft programs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF, digital, and optical satellite communications systems.
• Define and verify space communication system requirements.
• Perform analyses and simulations for communication systems.

Skills

Communication Systems Design

Signal Analysis

System Architecture

MATLAB

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering

Master’s degree in aerospace engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Job description

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

Position: Spacecraft RF Engineer

Apex is seeking a seasoned spacecraft RF engineer to work on a closely integrated team who will drive the design of hardware and software to meet the communications requirements of our bus. You will have an opportunity to approach this from a clean sheet design and inform coupled trades across the vehicle architecture. You will be innovative in your approach to push the limits of design and performance, while disrupting and making an impact on the industry.

Responsibilities:

1. Design and develop RF, digital, and optical satellite communications systems and spacecraft architectures
2. Define and verify space communication system requirements and interfaces; drive requirements for subcomponents and drive supplier down selection
3. Perform analyses and simulations for space communication systems, including link budgeting, analysis, signal distortion, system capacity, reliability, and performance
4. Develop analysis tools using MATLAB and object-oriented software platforms
5. Develop and verify system algorithms that meet functional and performance requirements
6. Perform hardware procurement, integration, design reviews, and verification
7. Work closely with other engineers to achieve overall system requirements
8. Work with payload customers to accommodate payload requirements

Requirements:

• U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export-controlled data
• 5+ years of spacecraft RF and Telemetry communications experience
• Experience across multiple spacecraft programs
• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related field; Master’s degree preferred but not required
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to work effectively within an organization and convey decisions, direction, and conclusions to multiple audiences
• Extensive experience in spacecraft design, launch, and operation, including all phases of development lifecycle
• Experience in integrated software/hardware verification and testing

Salary Range:

$175,000 - $215,000 annually

Benefits:

• Shared upside: receive equity in Apex
• Comprehensive healthcare, dental, vision plans (primary and dependents’ premiums 99%+ covered)
• Generous PTO package
• Competitive 401(k) plan and matching
• Paid parental leave
• Daily lunch and unlimited snacks
• Community events: monthly office BBQs, pickleball tournaments, run club, and more
• Support for your workspace setup
• Modern office located in Playa Vista with social gatherings
• Opportunity to make a real impact in the aerospace industry

Equal Opportunity Employer

Apex Technology, Inc. celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We evaluate candidates based on merit, qualifications, and performance, without discrimination based on race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other protected class.