Senior RF Engineer - Space Electronics (Front-End & Oscillators)

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

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.