Senior Space RF Engineer - Satellite Communications

Telemetry Today LLC; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 202,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Holidays

Parental leave

Relocation assistance

Office lunch

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corporation is seeking a hands-on RF engineer to own the selection, development, integration, and RF hardware for our launch vehicle and spacecraft. You will translate mission requirements into a communications system that works reliably from the ground station to the vehicle.

You will lead RF system trades, maintain link budgets, and bring hardware through bring-up, environmental qualification, vehicle integration, and flight support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, computer, or aerospace engineering, physics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience developing or integrating RF communications systems for space applications, including hands-on hardware verification and environmental qualification.
• Experience translating communications requirements into radio and antenna selections, link budgets, and hardware or system-level verification plans.
• Proficiency with RF laboratory equipment, including vector network analyzers, spectrum or signal analyzers, signal generators, power meters, and oscilloscopes.
• Working knowledge of digital communications and modulation, RF measurement methods, and EMI/EMC mitigation through grounding, shielding, filtering, and cable routing.
• Ability to use Python or MATLAB for test support and data analysis, document results clearly, and resolve integration issues with suppliers and engineers from other disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Define RF requirements and maintain link budgets for telemetry and command links, including antenna performance, losses, interference, and ground-station compatibility.
• Evaluate radios, antennas, and RF components for the required bands from UHF through Ka-band; assess performance, interfaces, qualification evidence, and integration risks.
• Own radio and RF hardware bring-up, configuration, characterization, and integration with flight software and vehicle avionics, working with suppliers to resolve interface and performance issues.
• Develop and execute acceptance and qualification plans for RF hardware, including functional, vibration, shock, thermal, thermal-vacuum, and EMI/EMC testing as applicable. Coordinate facilities and equipment, lead test readiness, and maintain verification records.
• Develop RF test benches, fixtures, cabling, calibration methods, and automation with the test team; identify testability needs early and support repeatable acceptance testing for subsequent builds.
• Lead RF anomaly investigations across hardware, software, test equipment, and ground interfaces, verify corrective actions, and support flight operations.
• Prepare technical inputs for FCC licensing and coordinate compatibility testing with ground-station providers. Resolve RF interference and coexistence issues with payload and vehicle teams.
• Partner with the navigation sensor owner on GNSS antenna and RF interfaces, interference, and compatibility while maintaining clear ownership of the communications system.

Skills

RF engineering

Link budgets

RF bring-up

Antenna evaluation

RF testing

Test automation

Python or MATLAB

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Coər Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Vector network analyzers

Spectrum analyzers

Signal generators

Power meters

Oscilloscopes

HFSS/FEKO/ADS/AWR

Job description

Cowboy Space Corporation is seeking a hands-on RF engineer to own the selection, development, integration, and RF hardware for our launch vehicle and spacecraft. You will translate mission requirements into a communications system that works reliably from the ground station to the vehicle.

You will lead RF system trades, maintain link budgets, and bring hardware through bring-up, environmental qualification, vehicle integration, and flight support.