Sr. Test Engineer

Loft Orbital; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 115,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% medical, dental, and vision

401(k) with equity options

Relocation assistance

Generous paid time off

Flexible work environment

Job summary

Loft Orbital is seeking an RF AIT Engineer to lead the development, assembly, integration, and testing of RF systems for Loft space missions. You will work with cross-functional teams to ensure RF hardware meets design specifications and performance targets.

This role requires a strong background in RF and electrical engineering within space technology, with hands-on experience in RF testing and environmental qualification. Join a team advancing space missions from Golden, CO and beyond.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of RF subsystem testing and integration experience.
• Proven experience in RF system integration, simulation, and performance analysis.
• Experience in payload RF systems, transceiver, and amplifier design.
• Proven experience with RF testing tools (VNA, Spectrum Analyzer, RF chamber).
• Knowledge in EMI/EMC characterization is a plus.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the assembly and integration of RF subsystems and components into the spacecraft.
• Ensure proper installation, wiring, and connectivity of RF hardware according to design specifications.
• Develop test plans and procedures for RF systems and components.
• Conduct comprehensive RF tests to verify system performance (sensitivity, SNR, frequency response).
• Troubleshoot and resolve RF hardware issues during testing.
• Prepare RF hardware for environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC).
• Analyze environmental test results to ensure RF systems meet requirements.
• Collaborate with RF architects and design engineers for system analysis and simulations.
• Work with cross-functional teams to integrate RF systems into spacecraft.
• Hands-on experience with space hardware and spaceflight antennas.

Skills

RF testing

RF integration

Aerospace engineering

Transceiver design

EMI/EMC

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical or Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

VNA

Spectrum Analyzer

RF chamber

Job description

Wanna join the adventure?
As our new RF AIT (Radio Frequency Assembly, Integration, and Test) Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the development, assembly, integration, and testing of RF (Radio Frequency) systems and components for Loft space missions. This role requires a strong background in RF engineering, electrical engineering, and space technology.

Wanna join the adventure?
As our new RF AIT (Radio Frequency Assembly, Integration, and Test) Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the development, assembly, integration, and testing of RF (Radio Frequency) systems and components for Loft space missions. This role requires a strong background in RF engineering, electrical engineering, and space technology.

About the Role

• Lead the assembly and integration of RF subsystems and components into the spacecraft
• Ensure proper installation, wiring, and connectivity of RF hardware according to design specifications
• Develop test plans and procedures for RF systems and components
• Conduct comprehensive RF tests to verify system performance, including sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and frequency response
• Troubleshoot and resolve RF hardware issues during testing
• Prepare RF hardware for environmental testing, including thermal vacuum testing, vibration testing, and electromagnetic interference (EMI)/electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing
• Analyze and report on environmental test results to ensure RF systems meet specified requirements
• Collaborate with RF system architects and design engineers to perform system analysis and simulations for performance optimization
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and system engineers, to integrate RF systems into spacecraft successfully
• Hands-on experience with space hardware and spaceflight antennas, with a strong understanding of design intent
• Proficiency in test engineering, including test design, validation, execution, and troubleshooting
• Experience with tests such as EMI/EMC, GNC GPS testing, and TTNC (tracking telemetry and control)
• Knowledge of relevant software for testing and analysis
• Familiarity with electrical check-out procedures and environments, though emphasis lies more on rigorous testing rather than environmental testing

Must Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in RF subsystem testing and integration
• Proven experience in RF system integration, simulation, and performance analysis
• Experience in payload RF systems, transceiver, and amplifier design
• Proven experience with RF testing tools (VNA, Spectrum Analyzer, RF chamber)
• Knowledge in EMI/EMC characterization is a real plus for this position
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills

Nice to Haves

• Experience in Signal Processing algorithms

Some of Our Awesome Benefits

• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance option for employees and dependents
• Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) Accounts offered with an employer contribution to the HSA
• 100% employer paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability insurance
• Flexible Time Off policy for vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
• 401(k) plan and equity options
• Daily catered lunches and snacks in office
• International exposure to our team in France
• Fully paid parental leave; 14 weeks for birthing parent and 10 weeks for non-birthing parent
• Carrot Fertility provides comprehensive, inclusive fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits with financial support
• Off-sites and many social events and celebrations
• Relocation assistance when applicable
• Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other underrepresented people tend to only apply when they meet 100% of the qualifications. At Loft, we value respectful debate and people who aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions. We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t check all the boxes

Who We Are

Loft: Space Made Simple.

Founded in 2017, Loft provides governments, companies, and research institutions with a fast, reliable, and simple way to deploy missions in orbit.

We integrate, launch, and operate spacecraft, offering end-to-end missions as a service across Earth observation, IoT connectivity, on-orbit AI, national security missions, and more. Leveraging our existing space infrastructure and an extensive inventory of satellite buses, Loft is reducing years-long integration and launch timelines to months. With more than 30 missions flown, Loft’s flight heritage and proven technologies enable customers to focus on their mission objectives.

With a growing fleet on track to reach 30 satellites by 2027, we are scaling up quickly across our offices in San Francisco, CA | Golden, CO | and Toulouse, France to meet accelerating demand for space infrastructure.

As an international company your resume will be reviewed by people across our offices so please attach a copy in English.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

State law requires us to tell you the base compensation range for this role, which is $115,000 - $180,000 per year. This is determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The salary range for this role is intentionally wide as we evaluate individuals based on their unique experience and abilities to fit our needs. Most importantly, we are excited to meet you, and see if you are a great fit for our team. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy.