Principal Antenna Engineer Verified today

Kapta Space is a VC-funded startup developing electronically steered radar for spaceborne geospatial intelligence, earth observation using synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and advanced defense missions including target tracking.

What you will do

• Translate radar performance requirements into antenna architecture, interfaces, and design trades with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Design high-performance antenna systems and microwave circuits for cost, size, weight, and power-constrained systems.
• Develop analysis tools for antenna and RF performance within the larger radar system.
• Drive antenna hardware development, partnering with vendors and suppliers on performance, cost, and schedule.
• Build, test, and measure antenna and radar systems. Incorporate test data into system-level performance analysis.
• Optimize antennas and arrays for gain, sidelobes, scan performance, bandwidth, and polarization across frequency and scan angle.
• Model array effects using HFSS, CST, or FEKO, including gain, scan loss, coupling, sidelobes, polarization, and spacecraft interactions.
• Prototype and mature antenna feeds and RF components with supplier partners through qualification and production readiness.
• Support near- and far-field antenna test campaigns to validate EM simulations and assess radar performance.
• Develop array calibration, beam-steering, and alignment methods with FPGA, DSP, software, and RF teams.
• Optimize gain, efficiency, sidelobes, polarization isolation, and phase/amplitude accuracy across the scan range.
• Support spacecraft integration and RF qualification in thermal, vibration, and thermal-vacuum environments.
• Lead technical problem solving, design reviews, and hardware maturation from prototype to flight-ready products.
• Develop and validate antenna control algorithms for advanced performance modes.
• Contribute to recruiting and hiring to support team growth.

Required qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in electrical engineering, electromagnetics, physics, or related discipline.
• 10 or more years of RF and antenna development, including phased arrays for radar or communications.
• Strong array theory knowledge: impedance matching, coupling, polarization, scan behavior, and beamforming.
• Proven track record designing antenna systems that balance multi-disciplinary engineering requirements.
• Familiarity with high-density PCB-based antenna design and fabrication.
• Experience with phased-array design principles and digital beamforming.
• Proficiency with HFSS, CST, or FEKO and Python or MATLAB for analysis, test automation, and model correlation.
• Hands-on experience with VNA, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, and near- and far-field antenna measurements.
• High-frequency and millimeter-wave PCB antenna, feed, waveguide, and passive component design with strong cross-functional ownership.
• Demonstrated ownership of complex technical challenges from concept through implementation, validation, and deployment.

Bonus experience

• Spaceborne phased-array and radar antenna design, spacecraft integration, and environmental qualification.
• Radar experience including SAR, GMTI/AMTI, performance analysis, high-power RF, or digital beamforming.
• Metamaterial, traveling-wave, leaky-wave, or other low-profile electronically scanned antenna architectures.
• RFICs, beamformer ICs, custom ASICs, T/R modules, or mixed-signal control electronics.
• Ku-band, Ka-band, or higher-frequency arrays including waveguide, power handling, and low-loss RF.
• Active DoD clearance or ability to obtain and maintain Top-Secret security clearance.

Requirements

Onsite role in Redmond, WA. U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, refugee status, or asylee status required to comply with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).