RF Systems Engineer

Vast is looking for an RF Systems Engineer to execute the development of the RF Systems for our Orbiter and Haven programs. 

As an RF Systems Engineer, you will develop creative solutions to complex systems, production and test problems. Your work will involve spacecraft that will deliver the most cost-effective and efficient solutions for our customers. You will play a critical role in the system development and production process relating to RF systems for Orbiter; including creating integration and test procedures and processes for efficient manufacturability. Your input will be vital in designing and developing new and existing RF hardware to support the mission.

Responsibilities: 

• Provide technical direction relating to RF systems and set top-level requirements to hardware agile development teams, integration, and test personnel.
• Working cross-disciplinary with manufacturing/integration engineers providing work instructions and installation procedures for integrating and testing RF hardware on the Orbiter vehicle. 
• Develop processes relating to RF hardware to improve part tracking, traceability and reliability.  
• Perform engineering analyses such as link budgets, antenna placement and coexistence.
• Perform trade studies, use case development, requirements definition, derivation, validation and verification, interface definition, failure mode analysis, etc. 
• Support planning, development, production, integration, testing, and operation of the RF avionics system in close concert with related disciplines.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related engineering discipline
• 2+ years of experience with RF design, analysis, or unit level testing (significant academic projects, internships, and traditional professional experience all qualify)
• Experience with RF test equipment such as Spectrum Analyzers, VNAs, Power Meters, Cable Analyzers, SDRs, etc..
• Experience with electrical schematic capture software (Altium, Orcad or similar)
• Experience with software programming: Matlab, LabVIEW, Python, C/C++, JS, etc.
• Experience with full-lifecycle product development
• Familiarity with antenna measurement techniques and tools such as anechoic/reverb chambers, near field EM measurements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to creatively solve problems and weigh against multi-disciplinary requirements together while assessing risk and making design and development decisions 
• Experience working in collegiate project teams (e.g. Formula SAE, Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and/or professional experience relating to launch vehicles, space systems, aerospace or automotive
• Knowledge of space radiation effects on RF electronics and antennas
• Prior experience with vehicle electrical bonding requirements
• Experience with vehicle and instrumentation buses such as GPIB, USB, TCP/IP, CAN, SPI, and I2C, as well as serial I/O (RS232/422/285)
• Experience with the design and integration of RF systems consisting of radio transmitters, receivers, LNAs, PAs, couplers, filters, etc.
• Experience with simulation tools such as SPICE, ADS, CST, HFSS, etc.
• Experience with designing electronics for spaceflight environment, verifying workmanship and operability through environmental test (random vibration, shock, thermal, burn-in, and TVAC)
• Strong sense of accountability and integrity with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to thrive at an early-stage startup where you will have the opportunity to help create and optimize key systems and processes