Space System RF Engineer

Waypoint Sierra Consultants; California (MO); On-site; USD 200,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Waypoint Sierra Consultants is seeking a senior Space System RF Engineer to lead the lifecycle of spaceborne RF payloads, from concept to on‑orbit deployment. The role is on‑site in El Segundo, CA, supporting classified national security missions and collaborating with government stakeholders.

The candidate will provide technical leadership, advise on architecture and risk mitigation, and drive requirements, design trades, and verification activities with a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience developing spaceborne RF payloads from concept through deployment.
• Deep expertise in digital signal processing and RF systems, including radar.
• Experience with remote sensing, mission analysis, and systems engineering.
• Proven ability to lead requirements development, design trades, reviews, risk assessments, integration, and verification.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the full lifecycle of advanced space RF payloads.
• Advise stakeholders on architecture, TRL, and risk‑mitigation strategies.
• Lead requirements development, evaluation, and flow‑down to subsystems.
• Conduct concept design assessments and analyses of alternatives.
• Evaluate technology elements and integration readiness for mission success.
• Collaborate with contractors, engineers, planners, and government leaders on execution.
• Develop data‑driven recommendations and present to senior stakeholders.
• Support reviews across DSP, RF systems, radar, remote sensing, and systems engineering.

Skills

Spaceborne RF payloads

Digital signal processing

RF systems / radar

Requirements leadership

Communication skills

TS/SCI clearance

Job description

Job Description

Waypoint Sierra Consultants is seeking a senior Space System RF Engineer to provide technical leadership and lifecycle oversight for advanced spaceborne RF payloads—from requirements definition and concept selection through integration, test, launch, and on-orbit deployment. This full-time, on-site role supports classified national security space missions in El Segundo, California.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Provide technical leadership for the full lifecycle of advanced space RF payloads.
• Advise government stakeholders on architecture and design tradeoffs, technology readiness, and risk‑mitigation strategies.
• Lead requirements development, evaluation, traceability, and disciplined flow‑down to subsystem and component levels.
• Conduct concept design assessments and analyses of alternatives to identify effective, mission‑aligned solutions.
• Evaluate critical technology elements and integration readiness to support mission success.
• Partner with contractors, engineers, mission planners, and government leaders to align technical execution with strategic objectives.
• Develop decisive, data‑driven recommendations and present them clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Support multidisciplinary reviews across digital signal processing, RF systems, radar, remote sensing, mission analysis, and systems engineering.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Extensive experience developing spaceborne RF payloads from concept through operational deployment.
• Deep technical expertise in digital signal processing and RF systems, including radar.
• Experience with remote sensing, mission analysis, and systems engineering.
• Proven ability to lead requirements development, design trades, technical reviews, risk assessments, integration, and verification activities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance with the ability to obtain a CI polygraph.
• Ability to work full-time on site in El Segundo, CA.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Annual salary range: $200,000–$235,000.
• Comprehensive benefits package.

START DATE

Immediate

ABOUT WAYPOINT SIERRA

Waypoint Sierra Consultants provides professional aerospace services for demanding defense and intelligence missions. Our team supports advanced space systems across the mission lifecycle—from acquisition and integration through launch and on-orbit operations.

Company Description

Waypoint Sierra Consultants provides professional aerospace services for the most demanding missions, supporting the acquisition, integration, and operation of the world’s most advanced space systems for defense and intelligence applications. We provide system engineering and integration support to numerous USSF space missions. Our team assists in all mission phases, from pre-acquisition through launch-site integration and on-orbit operations.