Senior SatCom Antenna Engineer – AESA/Phased Array Lead

Intellian Technologies; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Intellian Technologies in Rockville, MD, seeks a Senior Antenna Engineer (7+ years) to lead design and test of RF and antenna modules for SatCom user terminals. You will drive full-wave simulations, prototype testing, and DVT activities while coordinating with mechanical, electrical, and software teams.

The role requires hands-on lab work, test planning, and delivering antenna packages for Ku/Ka-bands, including AESA concepts, polarizers, radomes, and metasurface radiators, with close

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in EE/Physics with antenna research or related field.
• 5+ years in SatCom antenna aperture design and phased arrays.
• 5+ years in antenna and RF system architecture design.
• Solid knowledge of antenna design principles and microwave theory.
• Experience with HFSS, CST, or equivalent simulation tools.
• Experience operating RF test equipment (spectrum analyzer, vector network analyzer, signal generator).
• Familiarity with antenna test facilities, far- and near-field measurements.
• Knowledge of cost-effective manufacturing technologies for antenna products.
• Experience designing flat-plane active steerable-beam phased arrays and beam-forming chips.
• Experience with polarizers is a plus.
• Experience with PCB-based radiators like meta-surface radiators for wide-scan angles.
• Knowledge of microwave PCB materials and processes.
• Experience with AESA design for LEO user terminals.

Responsibilities

• Architect antenna and RF systems for Ku- and Ka-band SatCom terminal products.
• Design various Ku- and Ka-band phased array antenna apertures for SatCom user terminal applications.
• Utilize simulation software and physical models to conduct antenna analyses for design optimizations and trade-offs.
• Generate design documents and packages to support contract manufacturers for prototype fabrication.
• Draft test plans of RF and antenna modules for design verification test (DVT) campaigns.
• Setup and manage RF lab facilities to conduct various RF and antenna tests and characterization.
• Design RF and antenna test setup and implement testing fixtures.
• Write and manage script languages to automate testing processes.
• Generate antenna and RF test reports.
• Lead cross-functional engineering teams to review the antenna system design.
• Support production build-up for the manufacturing partners for prototypes and volume ramp-up.
• Provide engineering analysis and system specifications for ESA that incorporate radiating elements & beamforming chips, polarizer & radome.
• Calculate/estimate the AESA design features & performance parameters including radiators, elements, beam scan range, cross-pol discrimination, G/T & EIRP from customer requirements.
• Design, optimize & develop AESA antennas & related components such as polarizers & radomes using computer simulation followed by prototyping & measurements.
• Provide engineering analysis and system specifications for ESA that incorporate radiating elements & beamforming MMIC chips, polarizer, radome & controller.

Skills

Antenna design principles

Microwave theory

Antenna testing

AESA / Phased array

RF system architecture

Antenna simulation

Education

MS in EE or Physics with antenna research

Ph.D. in EE or Physics (preferred)

Tools

HFSS

CST

Job description

Intellian Technologies in Rockville, MD, seeks a Senior Antenna Engineer (7+ years) to lead design and test of RF and antenna modules for SatCom user terminals. You will drive full-wave simulations, prototype testing, and DVT activities while coordinating with mechanical, electrical, and software teams.

The role requires hands-on lab work, test planning, and delivering antenna packages for Ku/Ka-bands, including AESA concepts, polarizers, radomes, and metasurface radiators, with close