RF Systems Engineer

Location:

Redmond, Washington

Compensation: $150, USD / year

Kymeta delivers intelligent, resilient communications and RF solutions for mission-critical operations around the world. Our software-defined, electronically steered platforms combine advanced antenna technology, multi-orbit and multi-network connectivity, and edge capabilities to help customers stay connected and informed in dynamic and demanding environments.

Kymeta serves national security, government, and commercial markets across land, aerospace, and maritime applications. We are advancing the future of mobile connectivity through innovative technology.

The Principal Systems Engineer will collaborate with exceptionally skilled teams of multi-disciplined engineers to develop the next generation of satellite-based mobile communications. This role will engage with RF Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical & Firmware Engineering, Materials & Reliability Engineering, Program Management, Product Management, and executive leadership to define, develop, test, and align Systems Engineering with product family objectives. There will be primary interaction with Military Prime contractors for technology innovation and integration.

As a technology leader, you will serve as Head Engineer on assigned programs, directing their technical aspects, and join executive strategy sessions.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

• Ability to set direction for team solving complex issues on critical systems-related approaches, requirements, specifications, and design.
• Coordinates engineering support throughout the lifecycle of the platform.
• Develop new concepts for future product designs to meet projected requirements.
• Align cross-functional teams on Systems Engineering Design for Manufacturing, Assembly, Test, Cost & Supply Chain.
• Guide engineering teams on system-level design specifications, analysis, and trade-offs, including defining hardware and software requirements, features, and integration tests.
• Establish, foster, and mature Research and Development (R&D) partnerships with academia, commercial industry, and government agencies in respective areas of expertise and support cross-collaboration with the other areas.
• Support engineering team readiness and execution during test phases and lead anomaly resolution teams.
• Responsible for the framework to support technical root cause investigations and corrective action plans.
• Accelerate design, development, and deployment speed through engineering development process improvements.
• Own RF system requirements and performance budgets (gain, noise figure, linearity, EIRP, G/T, spurious emissions) across the full RF chain from antenna to modem.
• Develop link budgets and frequency plans, and drive RF component and supplier selection (BUCs, LNBs, LNAs, filters, frequency converters).
• Define and lead RF verification and EMI/EMC testing, and support regulatory and network operator type approval.
• Serve as Head Engineer on assigned programs, acting as the technical authority accountable for end-to-end system design, technical risk, design reviews, and delivery of program technical objectives.

Skills and experience required:

• 10+ years in RF or SATCOM system design, integration, and test, preferably in the defense or aerospace sector.
• Expertise in RF measurement and analysis, antenna systems, waveform optimization, and RF test equipment (spectrum analyzer, VNA, signal generator).
• Proficiency with modelling and simulation and programming tools (Python, MATLAB, STK, System Vue).
• Strong communicator and systems thinker capable of leading technical direction and engaging senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience with link budget development to meet network operator performance requirements and drive component selection and design. Strong RF chain design and cascade analysis skills: noise figure, P1dB/IP3, phase noise, spurious emissions, and interference mitigation.
• Hands-on experience measuring G/T, EIRP, and EMI/EMC performance, and working knowledge of Ku/Ka-band SATCOM regulations (FCC Part 25, ITU-R, ETSI, MIL-STD-461).
• Eligibility for Top Secret clearance required.

Preferred background experience includes:

• 10+ years of technical experience.
• Previous clearance of secret or higher.
• Understanding digital or analog beamforming and communications systems.
• Previous experience in highly complex system…