Senior RF/Electrical Engineer
Job description
About the role
Lynk is pioneering the frontier of satellite communications by inventing direct-to-device connectivity that transforms ordinary smartphones into satellite terminals. As the holder of the world's only commercial FCC license for a commercial direct-to-device system, the company has proven its technology on all seven continents and operates under regulatory approval in more than 30 countries. This role centers on designing the very hardware and software that enables global mobile broadband from space using unmodified mobile phones. You will own the full lifecycle of nanosatellite communications payload development from analysis and simulation to integration and test. The position demands creative problem solving to overcome the harsh constraints of orbit, power, and latency with unconventional engineering solutions. By joining Lynk, you directly contribute to connecting every person on the planet with basic messaging and data services regardless of location. Your work will impact billions of people who currently lack reliable terrestrial connectivity.
Key facts
What you'll do
Define and execute link budget analyses, system dimensioning, and traffic simulations to size the satellite payload for coverage and capacity requirements.
Design and plan payload antenna technologies while selecting suitable radiation patterns and polarization schemes for global interoperability.
Support the iterative design, integration, and test of nanosatellite payload hardware including software defined radios, single-board computers, FPGAs, SoCs, processors, LNAs, filters, amplifiers, and associated mechatronics.
Develop detailed RF system designs and dimensioning documents that specify coverage, frequency planning, and interference analysis with mitigation strategies for complex orbital environments.
Configure and operate bench level test setups using spectrum analyzers, RF channel simulators, and breadboards to validate communications performance in controlled and in-orbit conditions.
Interface with the Systems Engineering team to refine constellation and network architecture based on measured payload performance and evolving mission requirements.
Plan and manage payload testing campaigns that span ground-based laboratory validation and in-orbit verification to ensure mission success.
Take ownership of technical documentation necessary for payload design, development, verification, and integration with spacecraft bus partners and vendors.
Collaborate across disciplines to support software development, digital signal processing, and firmware integration for space-grade hardware components.
Work independently and within multidisciplinary teams to solve difficult problems under aggressive timelines while maintaining rigorous engineering standards.
Requirements
Hold a Bachelor's degree or better in RF or Electrical Engineering as a foundational qualification for the role.
Bring a minimum of 7+ years of hands-on experience working on design, integration, or test of space hardware in demanding environments.
Demonstrate prior experience developing space payload hardware and software, with a preference for communications systems background.
Showcase hands-on familiarity with software-defined radios, antennas, FPGAs, GPUs, CPUs, SoCs, single-board computers, and microcontrollers in previous projects.
Prove programming proficiency in one or more languages such as C++, C, Python, or MATLAB to develop tools and firmware logic.
Have practical experience working with Linux based systems for development, testing, and deployment workflows.
Express familiarity with VHDL or Verilog and Altera or Xilinx FPGAs as a desirable advanced skill set.
Show proficiency with electrical design software such as Altium to create schematics and board layouts for space applications.
Demonstrate strong knowledge of RF air interfaces and multiple access schemes including TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, CDMA, and emerging techniques.
Have hands-on experience integrating hardware and software systems to debug issues across firmware, drivers, and radio layers.
Be fluent with computers and productive on Linux, Windows, and Mac OSX while expertly using Microsoft Office tools like Excel, Project, PowerPoint, and Word.
Have hands-on experience programming microcontrollers and SDRs to control radio front ends and process communication streams.
Knowledge of communication protocols, data link layers, and space network architectures is required to align payload behavior with system level objectives.
Nice to have
Only include preferences explicitly stated in the source, such as experience with specific tools or deep expertise in communication protocols and space systems.