Principal RF Payload Lead Engineer

Summary Of How You Will Impact Skylo

Skylo is hiring a Principal RF Payload Lead Engineer, who will be responsible for the end‑to‑end architecture, design, development, and on‑orbit performance of advanced RF communications payloads enabling direct‑to‑device (D2D) connectivity from LEO spacecraft.

• Define and own the RF payload architecture for direct‑to‑device services on LEO spacecraft, including phased‑array antennas, RF front ends, frequency planning, and waveform selection aligned with cellular standards.
• Lead the design, analysis, and optimization of phased‑array antennas (e.g., electronically steered arrays) for LEO missions, including beam‑forming strategies, scan performance, EIRP/G/T, ground coverage optimization, and handover considerations.
• Own end‑to‑end RF and communications link design for LEO space‑to‑ground cellular connectivity, including link budgets, modulation and coding schemes, Doppler impacts, interference analysis, and regulatory considerations.
• Define and manage RF payload interfaces with the spacecraft bus, including power, thermal, structural, EMI/EMC, data interfaces, and command and telemetry.
• Lead payload‑level integration and test, including functional testing, RF performance verification, over‑the‑air testing of phased arrays, and environmental qualification for launch and the LEO space environment.
• Collaborate closely with cellular RAN and core network teams to ensure compatibility with 3
  
  GPP and related standards, including protocol behavior over LEO satellite links and integration with terrestrial networks.
• Develop and maintain requirements, specifications, and interface control documents (ICDs) for RF payload subsystems and suppliers; lead technical trade studies and formal design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).
• Provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary engineering teams (RF, antennas, digital, baseband, and software) and manage external vendors delivering RF and phased‑array hardware.
• Support mission operations and constellation deployment, including payload checkout, on‑orbit commissioning, performance monitoring, and troubleshooting of RF and communications anomalies.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field with emphasis on RF, communications, or electromagnetics.
• 8–10+ years of experience in RF and communications systems engineering, including development of LEO satellite communications payloads or space‑based RF systems.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering phased‑array or electronically steered antenna systems, including architecture, modeling, beamforming, calibration, and test.
• Hands‑on experience across the full RF payload lifecycle: requirements definition, design, hardware bring‑up, integration, environmental testing, and flight delivery.
• Strong background in analog and digital RF design, including LNAs, PAs, frequency conversion, filtering, and end‑to‑end link analysis for high‑performance communication systems.
• Proficiency with RF simulation and analysis tools (system‑level and EM solvers) and laboratory RF test equipment (VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators).
• Deep knowledge of cellular communications systems (e.g., 4G LTE, 5G , or similar), including waveforms, multiple‑access schemes, channelization, and physical‑layer parameters.
• Experience applying or adapting cellular standards to non‑terrestrial networks (NTN) or LEO satellite‑based connectivity, including latency, Doppler, and mobility impacts.
• Familiarity with RAN and core network concepts, device requirements, and end‑to‑end system behavior for direct‑to‑device satellite services.

• Prior experience on direct‑to‑device LEO satellite programs or 3
  
  GPP NTN‑based systems.
• Proven track record leading complex technical teams delivering RF payload or communications hardware for on‑orbit LEO missions.
• Strong understanding of space systems engineering practices applicable to LEO programs, including configuration management, risk management, and verification and validation of flight hardware.
• Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one, as required by program needs.