RF Antenna Engineer

About the role

Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. We are looking for an RF Antenna Engineer to support the development of systems required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This is a full-time, exempt position located in Long Beach.

Responsibilities

• Develop RF Antenna telemetry and tracking systems for the next generation of crewed space stations, including hardware, software, and operations for space station tracking, mission data, payload data, and communications with visiting vehicles.
• Design and test RF antenna hardware in VHF through Ka-band—from concept to production.
• Perform architecture trade studies, requirements definition, component design, and manage development for various radios and/or laser systems (S-band, X-band, K-Band, infrared/optical, TDRS, C2V2, etc.).
• Design, model, and EM simulation of complex RF hardware (antenna, filters, passives).
• Fabricate and characterize prototypes of antennas, passives, and RF front ends.
• Design advanced antenna and feed systems for on-orbit spacecraft and ground systems.
• Full life-cycle ownership for related systems, including development, testing, integration, operations, and maintenance for related hardware (interfaces, modems, radios, antennas, etc.).
• Provide technical direction relating to RF systems and set top-level requirements for hardware agile development teams, integration, and test personnel.
• Partner with manufacturing/integration engineers to develop work instructions and installation procedures for integrating and testing RF hardware.
• Analyze in-the-field operational RF performance data of RF antenna products and investigate methods to improve performance and debug issues.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or similar.
• 3+ years of experience with RF design, analysis, and/or unit level testing (significant academic projects, internships, and traditional professional experience all qualify).
• Experience with the design and integration of RF Antenna systems consisting of radio transmitters, antennas, receivers, LNAs, PAs, couplers, filters, etc.
• Experience with simulation tools such as SPICE, ADS, CST, HFSS, etc.
• Experience with RF test equipment such as Spectrum Analyzers, VNAs, Power Meters, Cable Analyzers, SDRs, etc.
• Experience with electrical schematic capture software (Altium, Orcad or similar).
• Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering or similar.
• Proficiency in working with GNU Radio and software-defined radios (SDRs).
• Knowledge of space radiation effects on RF electronics and antennas.
• Prior experience with vehicle electrical bonding requirements.
• Good grasp of electronics and RF theory, and hands-on experience with electronics hardware, including both analog and digital.
• Familiarity with antenna measurement techniques and tools such as anechoic/reverb chambers, near field EM measurements.
• Experience with software programming: Matlab, LabVIEW, Python, C/C++, JS, etc.
• Experience with full-lifecycle product development.
• Experience with designing electronics for spaceflight environment, verifying workmanship and operability through environmental test (random vibration, shock, thermal, burn-in, and TVAC).
• Knowledge of RF demodulation, decommutation, FEC and CRC decoding, IRIG or CCSDS decoding techniques, Best-Source Selecting, for use in RF receiving front-end systems.

Pay

RF Antenna Engineer II: $120,540 - $171,108
Senior RF Antenna Engineer: $147,600 - $209,520
Pay Range (California): $120,540—$209,520 USD

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package.

Benefits

• Company equity for full-time employees.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
• Generous paid time off: up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days for non-exempt staff, with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually.
• Paid parental leave.
• Short and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
• ClassPass credits.
• Personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health.
• Other discounts and perks.
• Exceptional food perks: snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals free of charge; lunch subsidized.

U.S. export control compliance: The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls and must be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing.