Principal Satellite RF Engineer

A Day in the Life  

You will have the opportunity to do groundbreaking research in the satellite telecommunications industry. Our close-knit community encourages collaboration, creativity, and risk taking. We value people who have the math and computer simulation skills to break problems down to first principles. And we have the funding to provide you with the tools and training that you need to do your job. As our Principal Satellite RF Engineer, you will be responsible for the detailed design and prototyping of RF circuits in satellite payloads and in ground terminals. This job is a full-time position located at our new Long Beach, CA facility. Some work can be done remotely from home, but lab work requires some days in the office. 

Your Mission 

• Detailed design of RF circuits in satellite payloads and in electronically steered antennas (ESA). 
• Selection and specification of components for RF circuits, including line amplifiers, HPA, LNA, mixers, cavity tuned band pass filters, microstrip and stripline printed components, high speed A/D and D/A converters, Terabit backplane switching and control components, power conditioning components, power and heat management components, hybrids, and ASIC. 
• Model RF system behavior and validate RF system performance. 
• Develop interfaces between RF circuits and antennas. 
• Evaluate and test new components and technologies. 

• Perform trade studies between cost and performance. 
• Estimate the development time, NRE costs, and recurring costs for various RF circuits. 
• Contribute to all phases of development life cycle (requirements definition, systems and circuit design, integration of RF and wireless circuits and systems, testing, and manufacturing activities). 

Essential Qualifications 

• RF engineer with a minimum of 10 years of broad experience doing RF/Analog circuit design and board layout using the relevant tools. 

• Experience modeling, designing, and testing RF subsystems, preferably for satellite payloads. 
• Expertise in RF front end design and integration of RF subsystems. 
• Experience using HFSS, CST, ADS, Clarity, GRASP, GENESYS or similar RF simulation tools. 
• Experience doing microwave analysis (and electrical analysis in general) using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools. 
• Familiarity with directional couplers, circulators, and other waveguide components. 

• Practical and theoretical knowledge of mixed signal design. 
• Practical and theoretical knowledge of modulation methods and modem capabilities. 
• Ability to perform bench-level analog/power bring-up and troubleshooting using analog and digital test equipment like spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, and vector signal generators. 
• Hands-on prototyping and debug experience testing complex RF subsystems. 
• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or some equally strong theoretical background. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Demonstrated ability to manage suppliers, recruit talent, lead teams, and manage projects. 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, especially good listening skills. 
• Experience in the design of satellite payloads and in managing radiation effects. 
• Experience designing, manufacturing, and testing space flight hardware. 

• Design of ASICs and hybrid modules. 
• Antenna design experience. 
• Understanding of microwave propagation theory. 
• Satellite system design experience. 
• Experience operating and maintaining anechoic chambers. 

• Expertise in programming test equipment using languages like C++ and LabVIEW. 

ITAR Requirements 

SpinLaunch is required by the U.S. Government to comply with various space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident (“green card holder”) as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. More information on ITAR can be found here. 

SpinLaunch is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Each individual has the right to work in a professional environment that promotes equal employment opportunity and prohibits discriminatory practices, including harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.