Senior RF Engineer

The role

You will own the selection, development, integration, and radio systems and associated RF hardware for launch vehicles and spacecraft. You will turn mission requirements into a communications system that works from the ground station to the vehicle.

What you will do

• Define RF requirements and maintain link budgets for telemetry and command links.
• Evaluate radios, antennas, and RF components from UHF through Ka-band.
• Own radio and RF hardware bring-up, configuration, characterization, and integration.
• Develop and execute acceptance and qualification plans for RF hardware.
• Develop RF test benches, fixtures, cabling, calibration methods, and automation.
• Lead RF anomaly investigations across hardware, software, test equipment, and ground interfaces.
• Prepare technical inputs for FCC licensing and coordinate compatibility testing.
• Partner with the navigation sensor owner on GNSS antenna and RF interfaces.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, computer, or aerospace engineering, physics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience developing or integrating RF communications systems for space applications.
• Experience translating communications requirements into radio and antenna selections, link budgets, and hardware or system-level verification plans.
• Proficiency with RF laboratory equipment, including vector network analyzers, spectrum or signal analyzers, signal generators, power meters, and oscilloscopes.
• Working knowledge of digital communications and modulation, RF measurement methods, and EMI/EMC mitigation.
• Ability to use Python or MATLAB for test support and data analysis.

Nice to have

• Experience taking supplier-provided flight radios through vehicle integration, ground-station testing, and on-orbit operations.
• Experience with CCSDS protocols, software-defined radio interfaces, or modulation and coding schemes used in satellite communications.
• Experience automating RF instruments using SCPI, VISA, or comparable interfaces, and working in Linux environments.
• Experience applying space-hardware qualification and acceptance standards such as GEVS, MIL-STD-1540, SMC-S-016, or ECSS, and planning EMI/EMC verification.
• Experience using RF analysis tools such as HFSS, FEKO, ADS, or AWR, or preparing technical material for spectrum licensing and coordination.

Benefits

• Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off
• 10 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance if applicable
• Daily lunch in the office
• Fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

Before you apply

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Depar

About the company

Cowboy Space Corporation is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. The company is building modular, scalable satellites to collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit.