RF​/Antenna Engineer, LEO Antenna Test Infrastructure

Job  | Amazon Kuiper Manufacturing Enterprises LLC

Amazon LEO is an initiative to launch a constellation of LEO satellites that will provide broadband connectivity to underserved communities around the world.

The LEO Antenna Test Infrastructure team provides the test systems and techniques to verify Payload, CT and full satellite vehicle hardware, integrates the test automation and connects the dots between Responsible Engineers and their product's test metrics. The team is a pivotal point for multiple other teams and orgs, our internal customers. It is highly multidisciplinary:
SysDE, SDE, ME, Metrology, Antenna, FPGA and Lab Ops all converge in the same room.

As an RF Engineer you will engage with an experienced cross‑disciplinary team to develop new, advanced test systems for our Digital Phased Array systems, integrating them with our existing test infrastructure. We have near field spherical scanners, robotic manipulators and advanced RF optics that account for some of the fastest antenna characterization systems in the world, but we need to keep expanding our test coverage and improve accuracy and tighten repeatability.

These systems employ RF and mixed signal electronics that allow us to test from 400 MHz to 40 GHz antennas, and we need to also expand coverage to V band as well as multiply the test speed and capacity.

You will leverage your experience in RF electronics to design new acquisition systems, and troubleshoot existing ones looking at the acquired results in both near field and far field, and thus isolate issues relative to RF circuit, test equipment, setup, array calibration and software/RF system. You’ll exercise pragmatism and write automation code (Python, SCPI, C/C++, Rust) to devise test setups and procedures that are simple, easy to develop and maintain, yet able to perform all requirement verification tasks.

You’ll use documentation and communication skills to report test metrics and requirement pass/fail to Antenna designer, Array designers, Software team, and other teams.

Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

• Develop our test infrastructure to measure antenna performance metrics of digital phased array systems and customer terminals in near and far field chambers, and automate the tests.
• Define test plans and procedures for lab and chamber testing, ensuring the required test coverage to verify requirements and validate models.
• Develop automation routines to control equipment (ATE) and our custom‑made antenna test system to accelerate antenna beam pattern test.
• Implement, validate, and optimize lab and chamber test configurations.
• Develop required post‑processing to analyze test results.
• Document and interpret test results, troubleshoot issues, performing root‑cause analysis for any test failures.
• Communicate status and issues effectively with developers and managers.
• Meet with suppliers to select enabling lab technologies.
• Shepherd antennas and customer terminals through test campaigns throughout the development lifecycle, from concept to implementation to integration.

Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

• 4+ years of working in mechanical engineering or equivalent experience
• Experience with prototyping and implementation
• BS degree in EE with some RF and antenna coursework or research, or equivalent experience
• 3+ years of professional, non‑internship experience EM modeling in 2.5D and 3D EM tools
• 2+ years of experience in RF design and modeling with linear and non‑linear simulation tools
• 2+ years of experience with MATLAB
• Professional, non‑internship experience with design, implementation and verification with launched RF system products.
• Experience with lab work and RF test equipment
• Experience with Automation of Test Equipment