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RF Engineer

Planet
San Francisco, California
Full Time
Posted November 20, 2025
$114k - $143k
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Application opens on company website

Job Description

The role involves developing and testing advanced RF and microwave communication systems for next-generation small satellites, including transceivers, antennas, and ground station equipment, to enhance satellite communication performance and reliability.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop next-generation onboard links, ground radios, and antenna systems for satellite communications.
  • Design, simulate, test, and characterize RF hardware, transceivers, and antennas.
  • Conduct environmental and EMI/EMC testing on communication subsystems for space readiness.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including electrical, software, and mechanical engineers to address design challenges.
  • Support integration, validation, and performance testing of RF and optical communication systems pre- and post-launch.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering
  • At least 2 years of engineering experience designing and maturing RF MW systems, transceivers, antennas, and/or SDRs to market, with the ability to review low-level design decisions and understand their impact on the larger system mission
  • Solid fundamentals in RF MW, electromagnetics, and signal processing
  • Ability to adapt and learn a multitude of skills to contribute to the design of complex systems including active RF circuits, transceivers, PLL synthesizers, mixers, switches, RF amplifiers, oscillators, detectors, filters, and other building blocks for space and ground station applications
  • Excellent documentation, presentation, and communication skills
  • Experience in conducting environmental and EMI EMC testing on communication subsystems and preparing them for flight
  • Experience with RF hardware development, communication systems integration, testing, and interfacing with cross-functional teams including electrical, software, and mechanical engineers
  • Knowledge of designing, simulating, and testing antennas and RF transceivers, including validation and verification of radios and antennas pre-shipment and on-orbit performance validation
  • Experience supporting RF MW Optical Communications system bringup, integration, and testing
  • Application for this position requires access to export-controlled information, and the candidate must be able to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Home Office Reimbursement
Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
Equity
Commuter Benefits if local to an office
Paid Volunteering Time Off
Discretionary short-term and long-term incentives bonus and equity (potentially)

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