RF Test Engineer

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

We are seeking an RF Test Engineer to support development, integration, and validation of spacecraft communication and RF systems. This role will focus heavily on flatsat and communications rack testing, RF subsystem characterization, automated test development, and environmental test campaigns. You’ll work closely with RF, avionics, software, and integration teams to validate hardware performance from component-level bring-up through spacecraft-level environmental testing.

This is a highly hands-on role requiring strong RF fundamentals, comfort operating advanced lab equipment, and the ability to troubleshoot complex integrated systems in fast-moving development environments.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute RF test plans for spacecraft communication systems and RF hardware

• Support flatsat and communications rack integration, bring-up, and debugging

• Characterize and validate RF components including:

  • Antennas

  • Radios and transceivers

  • GNSS systems

  • Power amplifiers (PAs)

  • Low-noise amplifiers (LNAs)

  • Couplers and power dividers

  • RF switches

  • Radar subsystems (nice to have)

• Operate and automate RF test equipment including:

  • Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs)

  • Spectrum / Vector Signal Analyzers

  • Vector Signal Generators

  • Signal generators

  • Network analyzers

  • USRP and SDR-based systems

• Execute near-field antenna measurements and RF characterization testing

• Support spacecraft environmental test campaigns including:

  • EMI/EMC

  • Vibration

  • Thermal cycling

  • TVAC

• Support RF validation in thermal vacuum environments, including understanding of effects such as corona discharge and multipactor risk

• Develop Python-based automation tools for data collection, test execution, and analysis

• Analyze RF system performance metrics including:

  • SNR

  • BER

  • EVM

  • PLL behavior

  • Insertion loss

  • Scattering parameters (S-parameters)

• Support link budget verification and end-to-end RF system performance analysis

• Troubleshoot RF and digital communication issues across integrated spacecraft systems

• Work within Linux-based test and development environments

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, or related technical field

• 4+ years of hands-on RF test or RF systems engineering experience

• Experience working with RF lab instrumentation and automated testing

• Familiarity with spacecraft, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability hardware environments

• Experience scripting in Python for automation and analysis

• Strong understanding of RF fundamentals and digital communication systems

• Comfortable working hands-on in lab and integration environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with spacecraft or satellite communications systems

• Familiarity with DVB-S2, OFDM systems, and software-defined radios

• Experience with software-defined ground systems

• Familiarity with digital modulation techniques and RF link analysis

• Experience selecting and characterizing coaxial cables and RF interconnects

• Experience supporting integrated environmental test campaigns

• Understanding of RF behavior in vacuum and high-power environments

• Experience using Linux in development and test environments

Familiarity with phased arrays or advanced antenna systems

Apex believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day. Our employees love working at Apex, and we want you to love it too.…