Senior RF Engineer

Venus Aerospace; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Stock options

Medical benefits (dental & vision)

Flex-Friday

Unlimited PTO

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Venus Aerospace in Houston is seeking a Principal RF Engineer to lead RF telemetry design, from link budgets to ground stations and onboard radios, ensuring reliable flight-ready data links for revolutionary propulsion technology.

You will blend analysis, mission planning, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to deliver robust RF systems. 5+ years in rocket/space RF telemetry strongly preferred, with HITL and ground system experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of RF telemetry experience in rocket/space applications.
• Experience conducting link analysis for flight vehicles in supersonic/hypersonic regimes.
• Experience writing requirements, conducting trade studies, selecting onboard antennas/radios.
• Experience designing ground systems to receive data and send commands.
• Experience implementing grounding/bonding/shielding for analog to digital signals in multi-band RF environments.
• Strong HITL testing and integration background.
• Experience with external vendors including evaluations and coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead assessment of link budgets and design of ground stations and onboard radios/antennas.
• System testing to ensure reliable flight-ready telemetry data and data links.
• Work in a cross-disciplinary team combining analysis, mission planning, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and hands-on engineering.

Skills

RF telemetry

Link analysis

Requirements writing

Ground systems design

HITL testing

Vendor management

Systems thinking

Environmental testing

Grounding/bonding/shielding

Multi-band RF

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mech/Mechatronics or related field

Tools

CAN/UART/SPI/I2C/Ethernet, MIL-STD-1553

Job description

Who We Are

Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace. At Venus, we’re looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion.

The Role

Principal RF Engineer. Join us as an RF Telemetry Engineer and help design, build and flight test revolutionary propulsion technology. You’ll lead assessment of link budgets, design of both ground stations and onboard radio and antenna systems, and system testing to ensure we gather critical test data. This role blends analysis, mission planning, hands-on engineering, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to deliver reliable, flight-ready systems. If you excel at systems thinking, flight systems implementations and solving hard problems, you’ll thrive here.

What You Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field. Alternatively, Radar Systems or Data Science experience, with a strong quantitative and mechanical measurements foundation
• 5+ years of experience in RF telemetry in rocket, missile or space applications
• Experience conducting link analysis for flight vehicles in the supersonic and hypersonic flight regimes
• Experience writing requirements, conducting trade studies, selecting onboard antennas, and radios
• Experience placing and designing ground systems to receive data from and send commands
• Experience implementing and troubleshooting grounding, bonding, and shielding solutions for analog-to-digital instrumentation signals in multi-band RF environments
• Strong background in hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing and integration
• Experience working with and managing outside vendors, including technical evaluations and supplier coordination
• Strong troubleshooting and systems-level thinking skills
• Experience with environmental testing and qualification
• Key Competencies: systems-level avionics expertise; cross-functional collaboration; vendor and supplier management; clear technical communication

What Will Set You Apart

• Strong experience with small vehicle avionics teams
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with diverse teams
• Familiarity with embedded systems, buses and protocols (CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, MIL-STD-1553, etc.).
• Experience managing contractors for consulting or hardware production
• Multiple launch campaigns under your belt
• Experience contributing to design reviews and flight safety reviews with range stakeholders

Location

On-site in Houston, TX

Benefits

Venus Aerospace employee benefits include a 401(k) plan, stock options, and medical benefits, including dental and vision. We have a flex-Friday flexible schedule, unlimited PTO, and receive professional development opportunities.

ITAR Requirements

This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be able to meet ITAR requirements (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State).

Venus Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation, please email [email protected] or call [phone].

For additional information about our Equal Opportunity Employment Policy, please visit our EEOP page.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.