Wireless Engineer - Satellite

Lynk; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A pioneering satellite communications company in the Washington, DC area is seeking a Wireless Engineer. You will design and enhance spacecraft communications systems, working with radio frequencies, antennas, and software. The ideal candidate holds a Master's degree in RF or Electrical Engineering and has hands-on experience with software-defined radios. This role offers a unique opportunity to impact global communications and connectivity.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with software-defined radios, signal processing, and RF systems.
• Experience integrating radios, antennas, and ground stations into a space communications system.
• Fluent in Linux and proficient with Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Evolve Lynk’s spacecraft communications architecture.
• Evaluate and select spacecraft radios and RF components.
• Perform link budget analyses and simulations for spacecraft communications systems.

Skills

RF and Electrical Engineering

Software-defined radios

Signal processing

Linux systems

Programming languages (C++, Python, etc.)

Education

Master’s degree in RF or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Spectrum analyzer

RF channel simulator

Job description

About Lynk

Lynk is the inventor of satellite direct to device or D2D technology, and has the world’s only commercial license from the FCC to operate a commercial D2D system. Today, Lynk allows mobile network operators' subscribers to send and receive text messages to and from space via standard unmodified, mobile devices. Lynk’s service has been tested and proven on all seven continents, has regulatory approvals in more than 30 countries and is currently being deployed commercially based on more than 40 MNO commercial service contracts covering approximately 50 countries.

Our technology will enable all 8 billion people on the planet to stay connected with the existing standard phone in their pocket. Everywhere. No matter what.

By joining Lynk, you will have the opportunity to directly touch the lives of billions. Your mission will be to bring mobile broadband to billions, pull hundreds of millions out of poverty, and save countless lives.

Job Summary

As a Wireless Engineer at Lynk, you will wear many hats in the world of radio frequencies, electronics, hardware, and software. You will be responsible for the analysis, design, implementation, optimization, and enhancement of spacecraft communications systems for our satellites. Some work products will include spacecraft radio and ground station product evaluations, link budgets analyses, system dimensioning for coverage and capacity (including traffic analysis and simulation), initial system design and dimensioning, coverage planning, frequency planning, interference analysis, and mitigation techniques. You will also be responsible for supporting the iterative design and test of our spacecraft payload hardware/electronics and software. This will include working with software-defined radios (SDRs), single-board computers, LNAs, and filters – you will also be involved in spacecraft communication systems antenna selection and design. While playing with all this hardware on a bench, you’ll probably need to pick up a soldering gun, use a spectrum analyzer, and/or configure an RF channel simulator.

If you enjoy the challenge of wearing many hats and have a track record of creative thinking to solve unconventional problems, then we look forward to meeting you!

Core Responsibilities

The Wireless Engineer - Satellite will straddle engineering work in the domains of RF, electrical, and software engineering.

• Continue to evolve Lynk’s spacecraft communications architecture, including components and systems that provide direct ground links, orbital relays, and inter-satellite links using SDRs.

• Evaluate and select spacecraft radios, antennas, and other RF components for spacecraft communication systems.

• Define Concept of Operations for spacecraft communications and related ground systems.

• Evaluate ground station options and select configurations that support the spacecraft communications Concept of Operations.

• Design, plan, and conduct payload testing configurations on the ground when testing spacecraft communications performance both in-lab and in-orbit.

• Interface with Systems Engineering team to inform constellation and network architecture and design based on spacecraft communications performance.

• Perform link budget analyses, simulations, traffic and capacity analysis, RF system design and dimensioning, coverage and frequency planning, etc. for spacecraft communications systems.

• Determine spacecraft antenna types, number, and placement required on spacecraft.

• Perform integration of spacecraft communications systems components and software for the spacecraft and in the lab.

• Support spacecraft integration, testing, and delivery to launch and spacecraft bus partners and vendors.

• Develop and maintain technical documentation for spacecraft communications systems architecture definition, design, and development.
  

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree or higher in RF or Electrical Engineering or related field.

• In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with software-defined radios, signal processing, and RF systems.

• Experience integrating radios, antennas, and ground stations into an operating communications system - preferably, a space communications system.

• Programming Proficiency in one or more programming languages is highly desired, such as C++, C, Python, MATLAB, etc.

• Proficient in working with Linux based systems

• Working knowledge of some communications and networking standards, such as DVB-S2, CCSDS, LoRa, etc. and protocols, such as TCP/IP, SNMP, SCTP, Ethernet, Carrier Grade Ethernet, etc.

• Hands-on experience with programming microcontrollers and SDRs is desired.

• Must be good with computers. Fluent in Linux and Windows; Proficient with Microsoft Office.

• Must be able to work independently and in a team environment.

Job Location

Washington, DC area