Senior RF Systems Engineer

Inversion; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion in Playa Vista, CA is seeking a RF Systems Engineer to own the end-to-end RF hardware development, integration and verification for its next‑generation reentry vehicles. You will lead link budgets, antenna modeling, lab testing, and live telemetry validation with cross‑functional teams.

The role requires a bachelor’s in electrical or related engineering and 5+ years in aerospace/defense with RF deployment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years in aerospace/defense with RF hardware deployment.
• Experience designing RF link budgets under dynamic flight profiles.
• Proficiency with RF simulation and lab testing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain high-fidelity RF link budgets and antenna radiation pattern models.
• Select, qualify, and integrate RF components including PAs, LNAs, transceivers, and antennas.
• Lead benchtop and vehicle-level RF testing and end-to-end telemetry validation.
• Establish ground station networks using S-band and L-band frequencies.
• Coordinate with software, GNC, power, and mechanical teams for integration.
• Prepare documentation for regulatory licensing (FCC, ITU, NTIA).
• Design RF test systems and test plans to qualify hardware across space and reentry environments.

Skills

RF systems design

Link budgets

Antenna modeling

Lab testing

Cross-functional teamwork

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Ansys HFSS

Spectrum Analyzers

Network Analyzers

Environmental test equipment

EMI/EMC testing

Job description

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth

Who We Are

Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next-generation capabilities from space. Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low-Earth Orbit into an on-demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform — one that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach. Our spacecraft are designed to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds. Inherently dual-use, our technology is built to meet urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, and working with partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA, Inversion is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space-based defense and logistics.

What You'll Do

As a RF Systems Engineer at Inversion, you will report directly to the Manager of Arc Avionics. In this role, you will be responsible for the development, integration, and verification of the flight and ground RF/Telemetry systems for Inversion’s next-generation reentry vehicles. You will own the end-to-end lifecycle of communication hardware—taking systems from initial link analysis and component selection through to radiation pattern modeling, lab testing, and live mission-readiness validation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain high-fidelity communication link budgets, modeling vehicle-level antenna radiation patterns and simulating RF performance in challenging flight and atmospheric reentry environments.
• Perform trade studies to evaluate, select, and qualify commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and custom RF components, including transmitters, transceivers, Power Amplifiers (PAs), Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs), and antennas.
• Lead benchtop and vehicle-level RF testing using standard laboratory equipment, bridging hardware with software by supporting live end-to-end telemetry validation.
• Establish and test ground station networks utilizing S-band and L-band frequencies to ensure robust link margins at critical elevation angles.
• Partner with software, guidance and control (GNC), power, and mechanical teams to ensure optimal antenna placement, proper thermal dissipation, and structural integrity under environmental stress.
• Lead the gathering of technical data and generating documentation required for regulatory licensing with bodies such as the FCC, ITU, and NTIA.
• Design and own RF test systems and develop comprehensive test plans to qualify hardware across space and reentry environments (thermal, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, and radiation).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 5+ years of professional aerospace/defense experience with direct ownership of RF hardware deployment, component qualification, or link architecture.
• Proven experience developing and analyzing RF link budgets under dynamic flight profiles.
• Foundational experience with electromagnetic simulation tools (such as Ansys HFSS) for modeling antenna characteristics or component behavior.
• Demonstrated background in the design of fault-tolerant and failover-capable RF systems.
• Proficient using common laboratory equipment such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, power meters, oscilloscopes, and data acquisition systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present technical RF concepts to multidisciplinary teams.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience testing and integrating S-band and L-band telemetry or transponder systems.
• Familiarity with the unique RF propagation and signal attenuation challenges associated with hypersonic spacecraft reentry (plasma blackout).
• Strong software or scripting fluency in Python or MATLAB for processing lab data, automated test scripts, or link budget tool development.
• Knowledge of aerospace environmental qualification processes, including EMI/EMC testing, anechoic chambers, vibration, and thermal vacuum (TVAC) environments.
• Familiarity with telemetry and range safety standards (e.g., IRIG-106) and digital modulation schemes (such as SOQPSK).
• Prior experience working in startups and/or small independent teams.

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $137,000 - $193,000. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.

ITAR Compliance

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a 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. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability.

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