Senior Spacecraft Communications Engineer: RF Link Expert

Roman Health Pharmacy LLC; Westminster (CO); On-site; USD 134,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

CesiumAstro in the United States is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Communication Systems Engineer to own the design, configuration, and operation of the satellite’s space‑to‑ground links.

You will model, analyze, and maintain the link budget, architect crypto solutions for flight hardware, and collaborate with flight software, ground teams, and RF test teams to ensure reliable command, telemetry and fault recovery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field.
• 6+ years of experience with satellite communications and RF system engineering.
• Experience in design, verification, and operation of satellite communication links.
• Strong understanding of link budget analysis, modulation schemes, and ground station interfaces.
• Hands‑on experience configuring and testing ground station equipment and space‑qualified radios and antennas.
• Practical understanding of how space links fail, why, and how to fix them before they break.
• Ability to define and implement communication system CONOPS for nominal and emergency operations.
• Experience with satellite communication link licensing and regulatory compliance (ITU/FCC).

Responsibilities

• Model, analyze and maintain the satellite’s link budget, modulation and coding, ensuring reliable communications from space to ground for all RF links.
• Architect hardware‑based crypto solutions for flight hardware, manage pass‑throughs and end points for users and operations.
• Strong understanding of ground station and network operations with the ability to troubleshoot issues with commercial providers and on‑site terminals.
• Define how the radios are used in different mission phases, including contingency operations and emergency recovery.
• Contribute to the RF link test campaign and work with flight software and ground teams to validate end‑to‑end communication link performance, from antenna to command center.
• Optimize low‑SWaP communications, mitigate interference, and ensure robust, fail‑safe links.

Skills

Spacecraft communications

Link budget analysis

Ground station ops

Crypto architecture

Systems engineering

Education

B.S. Electrical Eng

Tools

Ground station equipment

Space-qualified radios

Antenna testing

Job description

CesiumAstro in the United States is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Communication Systems Engineer to own the design, configuration, and operation of the satellite’s space‑to‑ground links.

You will model, analyze, and maintain the link budget, architect crypto solutions for flight hardware, and collaborate with flight software, ground teams, and RF test teams to ensure reliable command, telemetry and fault recovery.