RF Hardware Engineer

The RF Hardware Engineer designs, analyzes, and develops advanced RF, microwave, and high-speed analog and digital hardware for spacecraft missions, RF payloads, and RF instruments. This role spans the full lifecycle from concept through launch, including circuit design, simulation, layout, testing, documentation, and technical leadership, while collaborating closely with mission, spacecraft, and subsystem engineering teams.

• Design RF, microwave, and high-speed analog and digital circuits and components, ensuring high reliability for spaceflight applications.
• Perform detailed circuit and system simulations to predict and optimize performance across RF, microwave, and high-frequency domains.
• Create layouts for RF, microwave, and high-frequency lumped and distributed element circuits, including printed circuit boards with high-density digital and RF content.
• Conduct circuit-level analysis to evaluate performance, identify issues, and recommend design improvements.
• Develop and maintain schematic drawings, test plans, test procedures, and comprehensive test reports for hardware designs.
• Collaborate with mission and spacecraft systems engineers, subsystem engineers, and project management throughout the mission lifecycle from concept through launch.
• Contribute to technical concept design and requirements definition for RF payloads and instruments.
• Participate in and support technical reviews, including design reviews and readiness assessments, providing expert input on RF and high-frequency hardware.
• Assist in the development of project budgets and schedules related to RF and hardware activities.
• Lead technical teams through the full development cycle, including conceptualization, trade studies, prototype design and testing, flight hardware development, integration, and verification.
• Guide and mentor team members on RF, microwave, high-speed analog, and digital hardware design best practices.
• Support spacecraft integration and test activities, including off-hours testing when required for spacecraft-level operations.
• Assist project and program management in engaging sponsors and stakeholders, providing technical insight and status updates.
• Apply communications systems theory and RF theory to the design and analysis of payloads, instruments, and associated hardware.
• Utilize microwave, electromagnetic, and high-speed digital tools and simulators to model, analyze, and validate designs.
• Perform RF characterization and measurements up to Ka-band and beyond, including evaluation of antennas, RF payloads, and instruments.
• Contribute to the design and development of radar systems, military satellite communications systems, sensors, and software-defined radio architectures.
• Document design approaches, analyses, and test results, and contribute to external publications and technical reports.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent field.
• 7 or more years of recent, hands‑on experience in RF, microwave, or high‑frequency analog or digital hardware design.
• Experience with spaceflight high‑reliability hardware development from conceptual design through delivery.
• Detailed knowledge of discrete transistor‑based circuit design, including test and analysis techniques.
• Strong in RF, microwave, high‑frequency analog, and digital circuit design principles.
• Experience with RF or high‑frequency analog and digital CAD tools for circuit design and analysis.
• Proficiency in high‑speed, RF, and high‑density digital circuit layout and packaging.
• Ability to conduct circuit‑level analysis to determine and optimize performance.
• Familiarity with communications systems theory and RF theory.
• Experience using microwave, electromagnetic, and high‑speed digital tools and simulators such as ADS, HFSS,…