Sr. Radio Frequency Hardware Engineer, Kuiper Solutions Engineering Team

Project Kuiper is an initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.

The Kuiper Solutions Engineering team is a multi-disciplinary technology team involved in developing and delivering targeted and scalable solutions for custom satellite and ground applications. The Solutions Engineering team works closely with the core Kuiper team, and addresses the needs of specific customers (such as government agencies). The Senior RF/Microwave Engineer will play a pivotal role in the team delivering innovative and fast-paced analysis and design solutions.

The Senior RF/Microwave Engineer will be a member of the Solutions Engineering team, focusing on satellite system level analysis and the design of the various RF and Microwave circuit blocks in the range of Ka/K bands. They will be expected to lead a variety of tasks, from RF board design and component selection, to layout review and board bring-up and test. They will work across teams and support fellow engineers with design reviews and the preparation of joint reports and proposals. The candidate will have a sharp focus on the specific needs of the customer and be able to conduct trades and analyses to show that proposed solutions will meet the customer’s goals.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience working on complex programs with a diverse set of talented individuals, as well as with partner organizations (including government agencies). The candidate will exhibit the potential to lead small sub-teams of RF/Microwave engineers, and be able to prepare easy-to-read and technically compelling written reports.

The role is located in Northridge, CA, and includes US relocation benefits.

Security Clearance: Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance of TS/SCI, so you must be a U.S. citizen for consideration.

Key job responsibilities

• Interact directly with customers to understand technical requirements, and translate them into technically robust solutions backed by data and analysis
• Responsible for implementation of wireless system and physical layer performance of multiple wireless components. This includes the development and optimization of RF systems from baseband modems to antenna
• Responsible for designing RF and communications payloads on a commercial bus
• Identify top level customer requirements and ensure high quality and innovative designs are pursued
• Develop RF link budget, frequency planning, and filter requirements definition
• Perform RF design and layout trade studies for satellite RF and Microwave sub-systems in the Ka/K range; contributing to overall system architecture including inputs and requirements from cross discipline teams (Mechanical, Electrical, Mechanisms, Materials, Manufacturing, Assembly, and Test)
• Facilitate cost trades on multiple parallel configurations for cost/manufacturability vs design uncertainty
• Deliver well-written documentation, reports, and presentations for technical design reviews and as part of proposal efforts
• Design and support test campaigns, both development and qualification/acceptance, for space hardware

About the team
KSET is a multi-disciplinary technology team established to rapidly address the needs of targeted customers with specific solutions that have the potential to scale.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in RF, Microwave, or Electrical Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent experience
• 10+ years of experience in RF design with successfully launched products, using tools like ADS or AWR Microwave Office
• Experience in wireless system design and architecture, system integration, RF system analysis
• 10+ years of experience in hardware development across the full product life cycle (concept to production)
• Experience with RF schematic and layout tools

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or PhD degree in RF, Microwave, or Electrical Engineering, or related discipline
• Experience with current and upcoming RF standards in cellular (4G/5G), Wi-Fi, microwave backhaul, or similar broadband wireless standards
• Experience with communication theory, OFDM, MIMO, Digital/Wireless Communication Systems
• Experience with discrete RF LNA Design (stability, S/C/Ku/Ka-Band Frequencies)
• Experience with RF SSPA design, 5-to-10 Watt RF Power range (S/C/Ku/Ka-Band Frequencies)
• Experience with frequency synthesizers, high frequency Phased Locked Loops (PLL), mixers, attenuators, oscillators, filters
• Experience with integration of RF systems into aerospace/avionics enclosures
• Experience developing highly reliable RF/Microwave systems for extreme environm