Staff RF Systems Engineer Verified today
About the Team
The Avionics team owns all electrical design on the rocket: electronics, interconnects, mechanical design, testing, and initial production. Your scope includes flight computers, power systems, RF systems, PCB design, autonomous flight safety systems, and telemetry. You work on complex electrical systems critical to the successful launch of Terran R.
About the Role
Serve as a senior technical generalist and owner for Terran R vehicle RF systems. Lead system-level trades and analyses driving the overall RF architecture.
You will:
- Develop and maintain end-to-end link budgets for telemetry, command, and video across all flight phases
- Define the vehicle RF frequency plan
- Lead antenna placement and coverage trades using installed-pattern simulation and trajectory-driven analysis
- Support multiple radio and RF hardware developments: requirement generation, design review, integrated RF testing, and anomaly investigations
- Set analysis standards for the RF team and mentor junior RF engineers
About You
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 8+ years RF systems engineering experience on launch vehicles, spacecraft, missiles, or comparable flight systems
- Proven experience taking flight RF hardware (antennas, harnessing, radios) from design through qualification
- Strong command of RF system fundamentals: link budgets, antenna theory, interference, EMI/EMC requirements (e.g., MIL-STD-461/464)
- Proven ability to lead technical work across disciplines and mentor other engineers
- Hands-on experience with RF test equipment: spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, EMI receivers
- Proficiency with full-wave EM simulation tools (HFSS, FEKO, CST) and Python or MATLAB for analysis and automation
Nice to Have
- Experience with launch range RF interfaces and high-dynamics link performance validation
- Familiarity with telemetry standards such as IRIG-106
- Knowledge of spectrum management and frequency authorization processes (NTIA, FCC)
- Experience with STK or trajectory-based coverage analysis tools
- Experience managing RF hardware suppliers through qualification and production
Compensation
Hiring range: $175,000 to $263,000 USD. Actual compensation determined by experience, qualifications, and job-related factors.
Relativity Space offers competitive salary and equity, generous PTO and sick leave, parental leave, and an annual learning and development stipend.