Senior Spaceborne Antenna Engineer — Radar & Beamforming, Equity

Entrada Ventures; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 215,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Kapta Space in Redmond, WA, seeks a Principal Antenna Engineer to translate radar requirements into advanced antenna architectures and to lead design, modeling, and testing of high-performance RF systems for spaceborne applications.

You will collaborate with FPGA/DSP/software teams, perform measurements with RF equipment, and mature prototypes to flight-ready hardware, while contributing to equity opportunities at Kapta Space.

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in electrical engineering, electromagnetics, physics, or related field.
• Onsite role in Redmond, WA.
• 10+ years RF/antenna development, including phased arrays for radar or communications.
• Strong array theory: impedance matching, coupling, polarization, scan behavior.
• Proven track record designing creative antenna systems balancing multi-disciplinary requirements.
• Familiarity with high-density PCB-based antenna design and fabrication.
• Experience with phased-array design principles and digital beamforming (DBF).
• Proficiency with HFSS/CST/FEKO and Python/MATLAB for analysis, test automation, and model correlation.
• Hands-on VNA, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, and near-/far-field antenna measurement experience.
• High-frequency/mmW PCB antennas, feeds, waveguide/passives, prototyping, and cross-functional ownership.
• Demonstrated ownership of complex technical challenges from concept to deployment.

Responsibilities

• Translate radar performance into antenna requirements, architecture, interfaces, and design trades.
• Design high-performance antenna systems for c-SWaP-constrained radar.
• Develop tools for RF performance analysis within the radar system.
• Lead hardware development with vendors to meet performance, cost, and schedule goals.
• Test and validate antenna and radar systems with measurements and data-driven analysis.
• Model array gain, scan loss, coupling, sidelobes, and polarization over frequency and angle.
• Build and mature antenna prototypes; qualify with suppliers for production readiness.
• Support test campaigns and validate EM simulations with measurement results.
• Develop array calibration, beam-steering, and alignment methods with software/FPGA/DSP teams.
• Drive problem solving, design reviews, and hardware maturation toward flight-ready products.
• Develop, implement, and validate antenna control algorithms for advanced modes.
• Contribute to recruiting and hiring to grow the team.

Skills

RF/antenna development

Phased arrays

Beamforming

HFSS/CST/FEKO

Python/MATLAB

VNA/EM measurements

Cross-functional ownership

Education

BS/MS/PhD in electrical engineering or related

Tools

HFSS

CST

FEKO

Python/MATLAB

VNA / spectrum analyzer

Job description

Kapta Space in Redmond, WA, seeks a Principal Antenna Engineer to translate radar requirements into advanced antenna architectures and to lead design, modeling, and testing of high-performance RF systems for spaceborne applications.

You will collaborate with FPGA/DSP/software teams, perform measurements with RF equipment, and mature prototypes to flight-ready hardware, while contributing to equity opportunities at Kapta Space.