Senior RF Systems Engineer – Space SDR

HawkEye 360; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

HawkEye360 is seeking a Sr. RF Electrical Engineer on the Space Team to design, build, and test small commercial satellites for RF geospatial analytics.

The role covers RF payload architectures, SDR systems, RF front-ends, testing, and integration with flight hardware. The candidate will work across multi-disciplinary teams and contribute to PDR/CDR milestones, with a competitive compensation package and benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in RF/Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Expert understanding of software-defined radio architectures, RF front-ends and space-based RF systems.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience designing and testing RF electronics, including SDRs, mixers, filters, amplifiers and receiver chains.
• Experience with lab equipment such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, noise figure analyzers and RF test chambers.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Understanding of power electronics, high-speed digital design and RF fundamentals (impedance matching, S-parameters, noise figure, linearity).
• Expertise in PCB design and layout (Altium or similar) with RF considerations.
• Hands-on flight hardware experience (satellite integration, RF lab testing, prototyping, troubleshooting).
• Experience handling ESD-sensitive components and operating in cleanroom environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF payload architectures and SDR systems for space-based RF collection missions.
• Design and optimize RF front ends, including filtering, amplification, frequency conversion and signal conditioning circuitry.
• Perform electrical and RF simulations at a board and system level to validate performance.
• Perform RF link budget analysis, interference modeling and sensitivity trade studies.
• Support payload architecture decisions through mission-driven trade studies at PDR/CDR milestones.
• Define RF performance test plans to verify specifications (sensitivity, dynamic range, spurious emissions, linearity).
• Develop test procedures and automation scripts to characterize SDR and RF front-end performance.
• Execute EMI/EMC testing and mitigation for flight hardware.
• Design digital, analog and power electronics for satellite hardware; create schematics, block diagrams, layouts and DFx.
• Work with PCB contract manufacturers to ensure quality and delivery of flight hardware.
• Support spacecraft integration and testing, including ground support equipment and flatsats.
• Perform first-article hardware testing, burn-in, thermal validation and checkouts.

Skills

RF design

SDR

PCB design/layout

Altium

RF testing

Lab measurement

Python

C++

Systems engineering

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in RF/Electrical Engineering

Tools

ADS

CST

HFSS

NX

SolidWorks

Git

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

HawkEye360 is seeking a Sr. RF Electrical Engineer on the Space Team to design, build, and test small commercial satellites for RF geospatial analytics.

The role covers RF payload architectures, SDR systems, RF front-ends, testing, and integration with flight hardware. The candidate will work across multi-disciplinary teams and contribute to PDR/CDR milestones, with a competitive compensation package and benefits.