Senior RF Engineering Technician I

Rocket Lab; Westminster (CO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A pioneering company in satellite communication systems seeks a Senior RF Engineering Technician I to enhance their dynamic team. The role entails creating test setups, executing RF tests, and collaborating with engineers on complex electronics to drive innovations in aerospace technology.

Benefits

Company stock options

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plans

Disability and life insurance

Qualifications

• 6 years of experience as an RF technician.
• Hands-on experience with active electronics.
• Familiarity with Python and ability to read/create scripts.

Responsibilities

• Execute test plans and provide concise reporting.
• Organize and maintain antenna testing facilities.
• Create thorough documentation and intricate test setups.

Skills

Problem-Solving

Organization

Communication

Education

Associate Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology

Technical degree in Electronics

Tools

Network Analyzers

Spectrum Analyzers

RF Signal Generators

Job description

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are looking to add a Senior RF Engineering Technician I to our team. If you are excited about working in a startup environment, have a strong work ethic, and are passionate about cutting-edge electronics, we would like to hear from you.

In this position, you will work closely with Cesium engineers to create antenna range and RF test setups, execute test plans, and produce timely, reliable test results. You will have the opportunity to use and maintain state-of-the-art electronics lab instrumentation, such as anechoic chambers, spectrum analyzers, VNAs, automated power supplies, and more. You will be challenged to propose and fabricate intricate test setups and procedures to increase productivity and improve test results.

Many of our products include active phased arrays. These are antenna products with active RF circuitry integrated with the antenna. This adds complexity to the test architecture, including power, digital control, and thermal effects. As such, direct experience with phased array antenna testing is preferred.

Core day-to-day activities will include aligning with engineers to test and troubleshoot complex electronics and RF circuitry from component level to system level. As such, the ability to understand and work from drawings, diagrams, schematics, and test procedures is key.

As a small company, the Cesium team “wears many hats.” Candidates should be comfortable with a varied workflow that may involve multitasking between test setup creation, test execution, lab organization, and other related tasks.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execute test plans and provide concise and timely reporting of findings
• Organize and maintain antenna testing facilities and resources.
• Support rework of sensitive electronics, including QFNs, chip-scale ICs, RF cables, and 0201 passive components
• Create thorough documentation with meticulous attention to detail and a high standard of quality
• Create clean, intricate, and well-documented test setups consisting of instrumentation, cabling, and the devices under test

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• An Associate Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology or similar.
• 6 years of experience as an RF technician
• Experience working with active electronics
• Hands-on experience with lab instruments such as network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and RF signal generators.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot complex RF systems
• Strong organization skills
• Comfortable with collaboration tools such as MS Teams, Confluence, and Jira
• Ability to work well under deadlines
• Strong digital, written, and verbal communication skills

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Technical degree in Electronics or similar
• 3+ years of related work experience with electronics in aerospace or a related industry
• Hands on experience with active phased array testing
• Experience with RF electronics at 20 GHz or higher
• Familiarity with Python and the ability to read and create simple scripts
• Automating RF and antenna range measurements
• Experience in soldering and assembling RF components and systems

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members not through our approved vendor list or Talent Acquisition will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.