Senior RF Communications Engineer, Space

Slope; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

Generous PTO plans

Relocation Assistance

Professional Development reimbursement

Job summary

Anduril is looking for an RF Communications Engineer to join their Space team in Costa Mesa, California. This role will focus on designing satellite communication subsystems, ensuring integration with existing systems and developing advanced capabilities for various spacecraft programs. A strong engineering background, specifically in RF or Electrical Engineering, is essential.

The ideal candidate will also need the ability to maintain a U.S. Top Secret SCI security clearance and is expected to solve complex engineering challenges with minimal oversight while collaborating across multiple teams.

Qualifications

• Strong engineering background from industry or school.
• Experience conducting spacecraft operations.
• Ability to understand complex systems.
• Experience with RF subsystem design.
• Experience with optical systems.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to spacecraft communications subsystems.
• Integrate with legacy systems for enhanced capabilities.
• Develop software-defined approaches for communications.
• Own and manage space communication designs.
• Collaborate across teams to test functions.

Skills

Strong engineering background

Experience with spacecraft operations

Ability to navigate complex systems

Experience with RF subsystem design

Experience with optical systems

Problem-solving capabilities

Clear communication skills

Education

Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Python

Go

C++

Linux systems

Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI‑powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting‑edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril's Space team is dedicated to expanding our AI‑powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. We’re developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested war‑fighting domain.

ABOUT THE JOB

As a RF Communications Engineer for our Space team, you will contribute to the design of all satellite communications subsystem to include but not limited to bus TT&C, mission data links and inter-satellite links. You will be responsible for possessing deep knowledge on RF and optical systems to include link budget ownership, subsystem design and the integration of NSA approved Type 1 encryption. You will be responsible for authoring space‑to‑ground ICD’s and become familiar with Anduril’s ground software enterprise and orbital flight software systems. The Spacecraft Comms team will work closely with related teams, such as the spacecraft design, ground, and flight software, etc., to help improve both the ground and satellite‑based capabilities but above all else will be responsible for the successful design, test and operations of the various communications links onboard Anduril’s fleet of spacecraft.

This role is directly tied to ongoing, funded programs within Anduril’s Space Business Line. The programs require building and fielding a resilient, software‑defined spacecraft systems across numerous mission threads. We work with mission partners and customers to deploy reliable and robust capabilities on operationally‑relevant fielding timelines to meet complex challenges across the DOD and IC.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Contribute to the spacecraft communications subsystems for various spacecraft programs in all orbital regimes
• Integrate with legacy systems to unlock 21st‑century capabilities.
• Develop modern, software‑defined approaches to autonomous spacecraft communications leveraging proliferated constellations of ground and space‑based assets
• Own space‑to‑ground and space‑to‑space ICDs and designs for communication subsystems
• Collaborate across multiple teams to plan, build, and test complex functionality
• Coordinate with end‑users, other operators and customers to turn needs into features while balancing user experience with engineering constraints
• Support challenging schedules during ground testing, launch windows and on‑orbit operations of the spacecraft systems

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong engineering background from industry or school, ideally in areas/fields such as Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Computer Science, or other engineering degree
• Experience conducting spacecraft operations and satellite command and control with an emphasis on system reliability and uptime
• Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex systems and detailed requirements
• Experience with RF subsystem design for space‑space and space‑ground in multiple orbital regimes
• Experience with optical inter‑satellite and optical space‑ground systems
• Capable of solving complex technical problems with little oversight
• Clear communication and organizational skills including creating documentation and training materials
• Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Top Secret SCI security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Python, Go, C++ and/or Linux systems
• A desire to work on critical software and hardware designs in the space domain
• Experience testing comms subsystems in laboratory environments that mimic the space environmental constraints
• Experience with testing/validation leveraging FlatSats, Hardware-in-the-Loop testbeds and digital spacecraft simulators through nominal and fault scenarios
• Exposure to ground station operations and providers
• Exposure to US satellite operations policy and constraints for relevant mission threads in all orbits

US Salary Range

$129,000 — $171,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full‑time employees, including:

Healthcare Benefits

• US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you.
• UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents.
• IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents.

Additional Benefits

• Income Protection: Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees.
• Generous time off: Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting.
• Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available.
• Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development.
• Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region.
• Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.

Retirement Savings Plan

• US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options.
• UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match.
• AUS Roles: Superannuation plan.

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.