Spacecraft RF Engineer

Protingent; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Protingent is hiring for an experienced RF Systems Engineer in Los Angeles, CA. The role focuses on RF architecture, link budgets, and integration of spacecraft subsystems for flight hardware.

Responsibilities include PCB design, EMI/EMC testing, magnetic cleanliness programs, and ensuring FCC/NTIA compliance with thorough design documentation. U.S. clearance may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in electrical or aerospace engineering.
• 5+ years hands-on aerospace hardware experience.
• Expertise in link budgets and spacecraft subsystems.
• PCB design software experience (Altium, KiCad).
• Experience with RF test equipment and oscilloscopes.
• Experience with clean room environments and ESD protocols.

Responsibilities

• Lead RF system architecture design, link budget analyses, and integration of spacecraft subsystems.
• Design and route PCBs interfacing with spacecraft subsystems.
• Perform EMI/EMC analysis and testing across the spacecraft.
• Lead magnetic cleanliness efforts, including dipole modeling and magnetic surveys on flight hardware.
• Ensure regulatory compliance (FCC/NTIA) and document design processes.

Skills

RF system design

Link budgets

Spacecraft subsystems

EMI/EMC analysis

Magnetic cleanliness

Regulatory guidance

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in electrical engineering or aerospace engineering

Tools

Altium

KiCad

RF test equipment

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Lead RF system architecture design, link budget analyses, and the integration of spacecraft communications subsystem.
• Design and route custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) interfacing with various spacecraft subsystems.
• Perform comprehensive Electromagnetic Interference and Compatibility (EMI/EMC) analysis and testing across the entire spacecraft.
• Lead magnetic cleanliness efforts, including dipole modeling, stray field budgeting, and hands‑on magnetic survey testing on flight hardware.
• Ensure regulatory compliance (FCC/NTIA), document design processes, and provide technical guidance on test configurations and grounding to fellow engineers.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or similar field, with 5+ years of hands‑on aerospace hardware experience.
• Expertise in link budgets and spacecraft communications subsystems.
• Proficiency in PCB design software (e.g. Altium, Kicad, etc.).
• Expertise working with test equipment such as oscilloscopes, manual soldering/rework, and RF test equipment.
• Proven experience evaluating, testing, and integrating RF hardware, working in clean room environments, and adhering to ESD protocols.

Desired Job Qualifications

• Experience with spacecraft magnetic cleanliness programs, magnetic modeling, or stray field characterization.
• Deep practical experience with EMI/EMC testing standards (MIL-STD-461) and spacecraft‑level grounding schemes.
• Experience with the NASA GEVS standard, IPC Class board assembly standards, and designing electronics specifically for space applications.

Job Details

Job Type: Direct Hire
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Salary Range: $130K-170K

ITAR obligations are associated with this role, U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a) (1),(3) is required.
May be required to obtain and maintain a United States Department of Defense Top Secret security clearance.

About Protingent

Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation — from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies. We’re passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.