Senior RF/Electrical Engineer
About Lynk
Lynk invented satellite direct-to-device (D2D) technology and holds the world's only commercial FCC license for a D2D system. The service enables mobile network operators' subscribers to send and receive text messages via standard mobile devices to and from space. Lynk's service is deployed commercially with 40+ MNO contracts covering approximately 50 countries and regulatory approvals in 30+ countries.
The Role
You will be responsible for analysis, design, implementation, optimization and enhancement of our nanosatellite communications payload and future constellation network. You will work across RF, electrical, mechanical, and software engineering domains.
Key work products include link budget analyses, system dimensioning for coverage and capacity, traffic analysis and simulation, initial system design, coverage planning, frequency planning, and interference analysis. You will support design and test of payload hardware and software, working with software-defined radios, single-board computers, FPGAs, SoCs, processors, LNAs, filters, amplifiers, and antenna systems. You'll perform bench-level work including soldering, spectrum analysis, circuit assembly, and RF channel simulation.
Core Responsibilities
- Support design of spacecraft payload hardware including single-board computers, SDRs, FPGAs, SoCs, processors, LNAs, filters, amplifiers and software
- Support selection and design of nanosatellite antenna technologies
- Develop link budget analyses, simulations, traffic and capacity analysis, RF system design and dimensioning, coverage and frequency planning
- Support spacecraft payload integration, testing, delivery to launch and spacecraft bus partners/vendors
- Design and plan payload testing configurations on the ground for in-lab and in-orbit communications performance
- Interface with Systems Engineering team to inform constellation and network architecture based on RF communications payload performance
- Bench level mechatronics work including testing, integration, assembly, programming and prototyping of electronics hardware and software
- Software-based Systems Engineering analysis
- Develop and maintain technical documentation for payload design and development
- Work independently and in team environment
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or better in RF or Electrical Engineering
- 7+ years of experience on projects doing design, integration, or test of space hardware
- Experience developing space payload hardware and software, preferably communications systems
- Hands-on experience with software-defined radios, antennas, FPGAs, GPUs, CPUs, SoCs, single-board computers, microcontrollers
- Programming proficiency in one or more languages such as C++, C, Python, MATLAB
- Experience with Linux-based systems
- Familiarity with VHDL or Verilog and Altera or Xilinx FPGAs desired
- Proficiency with electrical design software such as Altium
- Strong knowledge of RF air interfaces and multiple access schemes such as TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, CDMA
- Hands-on experience integrating hardware and software systems
- Fluent in Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X, capable with Microsoft Office (Excel, Project, PowerPoint, Word)
- Hands-on experience programming microcontrollers and SDRs
- Knowledge of communications and networking protocols such as IP, TCP/IP, Ethernet, 802.11, 802.16, LTE, GSM
ITAR Requirements
To comply with U.S. Government export control regulations (ITAR), applicants must be one of the following: (i) a U.S. citizen or national, (ii) a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) an asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158. Individuals who do not meet these criteria must be eligible to obtain necessary authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Location
Chantilly, VA