RF Systems Engineer

Department: Avionics Location: Redondo Beach Compensation: $115,000 - $140,000 / year Description As an RF Systems Engineer, your core responsibility will be to own top-level RF system architecture for all radio communications, ranging, and positioning systems at Impulse. You will define the roadmap for future radio programs, drive cross-team alignment, and maintain documentation of link budgets and mission-specific hardware. You will work with RF engineers, Avionics engineers, mechanical engineers, and others to meet communication system needs across a wide range of capabilities and missions. You’ll work with uplink and downlink radios up to 32GHz, GNSS receivers, ranging radios, desense, coexistence, and antennas. Responsibilities Coordinate RF system development to ensure alignment across mechanical, thermal, electrical RF, software, manufacturing, and supply chainLead system-level trades involving transmitters, receivers, antennas, RF mechanical, power, thermal, reliability, and manufacturingProvide updates to engineering leadership on progress, risks, trade studies, and development timelines Own the technical roadmap, including technical progress and timelines, for Impulse’s future RF systems Work with business development to translate customer and mission needs into RF system requirements, architectures, and interfacesMaintain organization of RF system components, interfaces, and link budgets across Impulse’s portfolio of customers and missionsInterface with avionics engineers to define digital and power interfaces for RF devicesWork with regulatory team to develop compliant RF systems and license Impulse’s designs Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related technical field2+ years professional experience with direct ownership of RF communication components or systemsExperience in development of RF link budgets including antenna patterns, atmospheric modeling, link availability, and RF transmitter and receiver characteristicsDemonstrated ability in system architecture design for a high-reliability applicationProficiency in common RF lab equipment such as spectrum analyzers and VNAsFamiliarity with EM concepts of RF transmitters, RF receivers, antennas, and transmission linesExperience designing for and proving compliance with spectral emissions masks or similar regulatory requirements Preferred Skills And Experience Familiarity with RF modeling tools such as HFSS, ADS, CST, or STK2+ years of experience writing automation scripts for RF hardware testProven experience working in aerospace communication linksExperience working with high-performance GNSS receivers and GNSS simulatorsExperience with common RF protocols like SRS4, DVB-S2, and CCSDSPrior architectural design of L-Band, S-Band, X-Band, or Ka-Band hardwareFamiliarity with space environmental effects such as radiation, surface charging, plasma, multipaction, etcFamiliarity with satellite spectrum licensing laws, agencies, and standardsRF hardware debugging skills Additional Information Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan. Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here. Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.