Lead Engineer, RF & Electrical - Antenna Systems

About the role

Position: Lead Engineer, RF & Electrical

Antenna Systems

About the Position

E-Space is seeking a Lead Engineer to provide hands-on technical leadership for the RF and electrical hardware associated with our satellite antenna systems. The successful candidate will own the design, development, and validation of the radiating elements, array configurations, and associated element-level electronics. This role requires deep expertise in RF and antenna engineering to guide concepts from initial design through to flight hardware, ensuring performance, reliability, and manufacturability. The position involves leading a cross-functional team, making critical technical decisions, and solving complex signal integrity challenges to enable global IoT connectivity from space.

The role is based in California or Texas, with the possibility of site visits between E-Space locations. The selected individual will be instrumental in shaping the hardware architecture that connects Earth with orbit, directly contributing to scalable and actionable space-based communications infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

The Lead Engineer will be responsible for the full lifecycle management of the antenna hardware, ensuring alignment with program schedules and technical requirements. This involves translating high-level system architectures into detailed electrical and RF implementations.

• Architecture and Design: Lead the definition, architecture, and performance optimization of radiating elements and array layouts. This includes early collaboration with thermal, structural, and mechanical teams to ensure design feasibility and environmental robustness.
• Element and Array Engineering: Own the technical direction for element-level electronics, matching networks, and array integration to achieve reliable and high-performance operation in the LEO environment.
• Test and Validation: Define, execute, and refine test procedures and validation routines to verify compliance with system requirements, performance specifications, and regulatory standards throughout the hardware lifecycle.
• Manufacturing and Production Readiness: Champion the transition from design to volume production. This involves translating engineering drawings and specifications into manufacturable processes that maintain product integrity and reliability at scale.
• System Integration: Act as the primary technical interface for RF behavior, data handling, and ground segment integration, ensuring seamless interaction between the antenna subsystem and the broader satellite system and IoT payloads.
• Risk and Schedule Management: Identify, track, and mitigate technical risks and dependencies related to the antenna hardware. Proactively adjust plans and strategies to ensure critical hardware milestones are met despite evolving requirements.
• Component Evaluation and Prototyping: Evaluate component options, build hardware prototypes, and perform measurements to justify design choices and validate flight-worthy solutions.
• Technical Leadership and Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and grow a cross-functional engineering team. Provide code reviews for control, monitoring, and firmware logic to ensure the supporting software and scripts enable reliable antenna operation.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must possess a proven track record in RF and antenna engineering, with specific experience applicable to space systems or other demanding, harsh environments.

• A minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience in RF or antenna engineering, with a focus on applications relevant to space operations.
• Demonstrated ability to design and analyze systems operating at frequencies used in LEO satellite communications, including management of interference and adherence to regulatory constraints.
• Strong practical understanding of antenna array theory, impedance matching networks, and the electronics necessary for reliable element-level operation.
• Proficiency with analysis, simulation, and measurement tools essential for efficient hardware verification and rapid iteration.
• Excellent technical communication skills, with the ability to interpret complex engineering data, specifications, and test results, and clearly articulate impacts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience collaborating with ground stations, mission control software teams, and IoT payload developers is highly valued. This cross-system perspective is critical for optimizing the end-to-end performance and functionality of the connected solution.

Location and Compensation

This position is based in either California or Texas, with potential for travel between E-Space sites. The role offers a competitive annual compensation package of $180,000 USD, full-time employment, and the opportunity to lead critical hardware development for a next-generation space communications network.