Senior RF Engineer

SEAKR Engineering, Inc.; Englewood, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) plan

Year-end bonus

Paid leave

Job summary

SEAKR Engineering, Inc. seeks a Senior RF Engineer to develop RF front-end circuits and digitizers for space vehicle communications. You will design oscillators, distribution networks, and multi-GSPS digitizers while integrating with FPGA-based DSP functions.

You will collaborate across teams, lead design reviews, and create engineering documentation. Expect a leadership role and opportunities to mentor junior engineers in a space-focused environment.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
• Understanding of RF circuit theory, including transmission line propagation and coupling.
• Understanding of oscillator and clock circuit operation and key performance parameters.
• Understanding of RF circuit and signal characterization and key performance parameters: Si, Zi, Return Loss, Insertion Loss, SNR, SINAD, SFDR, ENOB, IMD3, NPR, and Noise Figure.
• Understanding of sampling and signal processing in digital RF systems.
• Understanding of printed circuit board fabrication and automated assembly processes.

Responsibilities

• Design front-end RF signal-chain circuits and assemblies for space vehicle communication and signal analysis systems using filters, amplifiers, mixers, couplers, impedance matching networks, and related components.
• Design stable, low-phase noise oscillators and distribution networks.
• Design RF digitizer circuits and assemblies using multi-GSPS ADC/DAC components.
• Create sampling and frequency conversion plans for multi-GHz instantaneous bandwidth signals to satisfy communication system and signal analysis requirements.
• Integrate front-end RF circuits, oscillators, and digitizer assemblies with existing FPGA-based DSP functions in order to satisfy communication system or signal analysis requirements.
• Cooperate with project teams over the course of RF system development to establish technical requirements, perform system trade studies, conduct design reviews, and track delivery schedule.
• Collaborate with RF group members and other SEAKR engineers to ensure that all multidisciplinary requirements can be satisfied in the assigned design projects.
• Create engineering documentation according to SEAKR’s workflow.
• Support PCB layout engineers to ensure circuit boards will meet RF performance requirements.
• Verify design performance with systematic laboratory measurements of engineering models.
• Perform worst case RF circuit analysis following SEAKR procedures.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts of questionable RF hardware identified during test.
• Contribute analyses and design alternatives to product and program proposals.
• Interact with SEAKR customers to address RF requirements, trades, and constraints.
• Effectively balance time spent on multiple concurrent assignments.
• Provide training and guidance to less experienced RF engineers at SEAKR.
• Take leadership role within RF Engineering Group to improve hardware development processes.
• Create clear reports and deliver summary presentations to product and project leadership.
• Serve as a technical expert in at least one RF engineering specialty: front-end circuit design and analysis; oscillator and clock design and analysis; 3D EM field modeling of PCB transmission lines and structures; or design verification measurements

Skills

RF design theory

Oscillator design

PCB transmission lines

RF system integration

VNA measurements

Tools

Siemens Xpedition

Cadence/AWR Microwave Office

Keysight ADS

Ansys SIwave

HFSS

3D EM modeling

Job description

• Compensation: USD 130000 - USD 185000 - yearly

Company Description

Join SEAKR Engineering, a leading-edge provider of advanced electronics for space applications. Pushing the boundaries of technology on a mission to change the world for the better from space.

Job Description

Seeking a talented and highly motivated RF Design Engineer that will contribute to the development of electronic radio-frequency systems for space vehicle applications.

The Senior RF Engineer will:

• Design front-end RF signal-chain circuits and assemblies for space vehicle communication and signal analysis systems using filters, amplifiers, mixers, couplers, impedance matching networks, and related components
• Design stable, low-phase noise oscillators and distribution networks
• Design RF digitizer circuits and assemblies using multi-GSPS ADC/DAC components
• Create sampling and frequency conversion plans for multi-GHz instantaneous bandwidth signals to satisfy communication system and signal analysis requirements
• Integrate front-end RF circuits, oscillators, and digitizer assemblies with existing FPGA-based DSP functions in order to satisfy communication system or signal analysis requirements
• Cooperate with project teams over the course of RF system development to establish technical requirements, perform system trade studies, conduct design reviews, and track delivery schedule
• Collaborate with RF group members and other SEAKR engineers to ensure that all multidisciplinary requirements can be satisfied in the assigned design projects
• Create engineering documentation according to SEAKR’s workflow
• Support PCB layout engineers to ensure circuit boards will meet RF performance requirements
• Verify design performance with systematic laboratory measurements of engineering models
• Perform worst case RF circuit analysis following SEAKR procedures
• Lead troubleshooting efforts of questionable RF hardware identified during test
• Contribute analyses and design alternatives to product and program proposals
• Interact with SEAKR customers to address RF requirements, trades, and constraints
• Effectively balance time spent on multiple concurrent assignments
• Provide training and guidance to less experienced RF engineers at SEAKR
• Take leadership role within RF Engineering Group to improve hardware development processes
• Create clear reports and deliver summary presentations to product and project leadership
• Serve as a technical expert in at least one RF engineering specialty: front-end circuit design and analysis; oscillator and clock design and analysis; 3D EM field modeling of PCB transmission lines and structures; or design verification measurements

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience
• Understanding of RF circuit theory, including transmission line propagation and coupling
• Understanding of oscillator and clock circuit operation and key performance parameters
• Understanding of RF circuit and signal characterization and key performance parameters: Sij, Zij, Return Loss, Insertion Loss, SNR, SINAD, SFDR, ENOB, IMD3, NPR, and Noise Figure
• Understanding of sampling and signal processing in digital RF systems
• Understanding of printed circuit board fabrication and automated assembly processes
• Skills in schematic capture (Siemens Xpedition tools preferred)
• Skills in RF design and analysis skills using commercial EDA tools (Cadence/AWR Microwave Office or Keysight ADS preferred)
• Skills in 3D EM field modeling with CAD tools (Ansys SIwave & HFSS preferred)
• Skills in RF component and circuit verification measurements using multi-GHz VNAs, Spectrum Analyzers, Vector Signal Analyzers, Vector Signal Sources, and/or Phase Noise Analyzers
• Experience designing front-end RF receiver and transmitter circuits
• Experience designing clock generation and distribution circuits with low phase noise
• Experience designing local oscillator generation and distribution circuits with low phase noise
• Experience in RF circuit board layout and transmission line design
• Experience working in collaborative design where success depends on collective efforts
• Experience in presenting briefings to internal technical leadership and/or external customers
• Experience designing direct-sampling or frequency-converting digital RF systems is a plus

Additional Information

Compensation: Base payrange is $130,000 - $185,000 depending on qualifications. SEAKR has very rich medical, dental and vision insurance plans, along with a generous 401(k) retirement plan. In addition to base salary, employees are eligible for a year-end bonus. SEAKR offers a variety of paid leave, such as vacation, sick, bereavement, and FMLA.

SEAKR is an Equal Opportunity Employer - All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Applications will be accepted until 9/11/26