RF Communication System Architect Verified today

Overview

CesiumAstro develops communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We are seeking a highly skilled Communication Systems Architect to serve as the primary technical owner of complete, differentiated communication system solutions for customer missions and new business pursuits.

About the Role

You will translate mission and customer needs into an end-to-end architecture spanning antennas, RF electronics, digital processing, communications algorithms, firmware, software, and system interfaces. Working closely with Product, Business Development, Program Management, and Engineering, you will lead technical solution development from early customer engagement through capture, proposal, contract definition, and transition to execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end technical solutions as the primary architect for customer pursuits, from mission needs through architecture, requirements, proposal, and transition to execution.
• Define communication system architectures spanning antennas, RF front ends, frequency conversion, data conversion, digital processing, beamforming, modems, waveforms, firmware, software, networking, and system interfaces.
• Apply deep expertise in a core technical discipline while integrating decisions across RF, antenna, digital, FPGA, software, mechanical, systems, integration, and test domains.
• Work directly with customers and Business Development to understand mission objectives, operational concepts, performance needs, and constraints and translate them into technical solutions.
• Lead system-level trade studies across performance, size/weight/power, cost, schedule, technical maturity, risk, scalability, product reuse, and Make/Buy alternatives.
• Identify opportunities to leverage existing products and technologies, influence future product capabilities, and determine where new development is required.
• Develop technical solutions for pursuits, providing architecture, requirements, technical approach, trades, risks, development strategy, and content for proposals and customer presentations.
• Define system-level requirements, interfaces, performance allocations, verification approaches, and preliminary designs to establish a credible technical baseline.
• Partner with Product Development and Program Management to develop Statements of Work, requirements, technical deliverables, development plans, and Make/Buy strategies.
• Serve as the technical bridge from pursuit to execution, ensuring engineering teams understand architecture, requirements, key trades, risks, and customer commitments.
• Guide multidisciplinary engineering teams across multiple technical disciplines without needing to be the subject matter expert in every domain.
• Communicate complex architectures, technical decisions, performance trades, and risks to customer technical leaders, internal executives, and engineering teams.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• 15+ years of experience developing complex communication systems, products, or payloads with demonstrated progression into system architecture or technical leadership roles.
• Deep technical expertise in at least one communications domain including communication theory, signal processing, waveforms, modem design, RF and microwave systems, antennas, phased arrays, beamforming, high-speed digital architectures, FPGA, DSP, or communications software.
• Demonstrated experience architecting or technically leading multidisciplinary systems beyond your primary area of expertise.
• Experience translating customer or mission objectives into system architectures, technical requirements, and executable engineering solutions.
• Demonstrated experience leading customer-facing technical discussions, design reviews, proposals, or new-business pursuits.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with space, airborne, defense, or other high-reliability communication systems, particularly involving satellite communications, phased arrays, software-defined radios, digital beamforming, advanced waveforms, or integrated communication payloads.
• Experience taking architectures beyond concept development into detailed design, integration, verification, qualification, and deployment.
• Combination of recognized depth in a technical specialty with demonstrated ability to operate as an end-to-end system architect and technical leader.

Employment Information

Full-time position. Compensation and benefits include company stock options and a generous benefits package: health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability, and retirement plans.

Required Eligibility

To comply with United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee, or refugee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.