Sr. RF Communications Systems Engineer, TT&C Lead, Project Sunrise Verified today

As Senior RF Communications Systems Engineer and TT&C Technical Lead, you will have primary technical responsibility for the architecture, design, development, integration, verification, and operation of the spacecraft Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) communications subsystem for Project Sunrise.

You will lead the development of the end-to-end TT&C architecture, translate mission and spacecraft requirements into subsystem requirements and interfaces, and lead the RF communications engineering team. This role combines RF/microwave technical expertise, spacecraft communications systems engineering, architectural thinking, and technical leadership.

You will work closely with spacecraft systems, avionics, GNC, flight software, power, thermal, ground systems, and mission operations teams to develop a robust, reliable, and scalable TT&C solution for a large scale constellation.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the TT&C subsystem architecture, including RF communications, antennas, transceivers, amplifiers, filters, frequency conversion, interfaces, and ground-system connectivity.
• Define the end-to-end TT&C communications architecture based on mission requirements, spacecraft operational concepts, link availability, data rates, coverage, reliability, Swap-C, and risk.
• Lead development and allocation of TT&C subsystem requirements, including performance, interface, environmental, reliability, and verification requirements.
• Develop TT&C CONOPS and communication scenarios, including command, telemetry, tracking, acquisition, safe modes, nominal operations, contingencies, and ground-station interactions.
• Lead RF communications architecture and technology trade studies, evaluating alternative architectures and technologies against mission requirements and system-level constraints.
• Lead end-to-end RF link budget and communications performance analysis, including transmit power, antenna gain, path loss, atmospheric losses, noise temperature, receiver sensitivity, link margin, data rate, and availability.
• Lead RF cascade analysis, including gain, noise figure, dynamic range, compression, phase noise, spurious performance, and intermodulation products.
• Define and manage RF and TT&C interfaces with the spacecraft bus, avionics, flight software, GNC, power, thermal, and ground systems.
• Lead and mentor the RF communications engineering team, establishing technical direction, priorities, development plans, and engineering processes.
• Provide technical direction for the design and development of RF/microwave hardware, including amplifiers, filters, frequency converters, receivers, transmitters.
• Review and approve RF designs, analyses, simulations, test plans, and verification results.
• Lead the development and execution of TT&C integration and verification plans, including component, subsystem, spacecraft-level, and end-to-end testing.
• Support spacecraft integration, test, troubleshooting, launch readiness, commissioning, and on-orbit TT&C operations.
• Lead resolution of complex RF and communications system issues and coordinate technical decisions across engineering disciplines.
• Establish and maintain TT&C architecture documentation, requirements, interface control documents, link budgets, CONOPS, trade studies, test plans, and verification matrices.
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies throughout the TT&C development lifecycle.
• Work with program and systems engineering leadership to establish team staffing, technical capabilities, and resource requirements for the RF/TT&C organization.
• Mentor engineers and develop the technical capabilities of the RF communications team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10 or more years of professional experience in RF communications systems engineering, RF/microwave engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading or owning the architecture of RF communications or TT&C systems.
• Demonstrated experience developing end-to-end RF communications architectures and link budgets.
• Experience defining, allocating, and verifying system and subsystem requirements.
• Strong experience with RF/microwave systems, including antennas, transmitters, receivers, amplifiers, filters, frequency conversion, and analog signal chains.
• Strong understanding of antennas, RF propagation, microwave engineering, and communications systems.
• Experience with RF simulation and analysis tools such as Keysight ADS, AWR Microwave Office, or similar.
• Experience with RF test equipment, including VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and power meters.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams and make system-level engineering decisions.
• Excellent technical communication and documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience serving as a TT&C subsystem lead, RF communications lead, or communications systems architect.
• Experience developing spacecraft communications architectures and mission/constellation CONOPS.
• Experience with satellite-to-ground and/or inter-satellite communications systems.
• Experience designing and testing RF communications systems for space or aerospace applications.
• Experience with spacecraft antennas, antenna characterization, and RF link performance.
• Familiarity with digital communications, including modulation, coding, synchronization, and data-link protocols.
• Experience with spacecraft environmental qualification and acceptance testing.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for engineering analysis and test automation.
• Experience with PCB schematic capture and RF/microwave PCB design.
• Experience building and leading RF engineering teams.
• Experience using generative AI tools to improve engineering analysis, automation, documentation, and engineering workflows.

Compensation

Base pay range: Colorado applicants $181,626.00 - $254,275.35; Washington applicants $197,529.00 - $276,539.55. Other site ranges may differ.

Requirements

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background check required for all positions. Additional checks may apply based on job profile and location requirements.