RF Engineer

About Northwood Space :

Northwood is on a mission to build a data highway between earth and space and bring the benefits of space to the masses through innovations in space communications technologies. If you like building quickly and seeing your work deployed in locations around the globe with real impact, we want you at Northwood.

Job Level: The level of this position will be determined based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. We are open to considering candidates of varying experience levels, from mid-career to experienced.

Role:

Northwood Space is looking for an RF Engineer to join our team in our El Segundo office. As an RF Engineer, you will design the next generation of ground stations. You will influence the overall ground station design based on RF performance trades, and you will collaborate with many disciplines including electrical, RF, mechanical, manufacturing, and software engineers to create the best product from concept to production.

Responsibilities:

• Design new RF hardware, and iterate on existing designs to improve reliability, performance, and manufacturability.
• Fabricate and characterize prototypes for antennas, feeds, and active RF circuits.
• Work in close collaboration with hardware and software engineers to test and troubleshoot integrated RF performance.
• Provide technical support to regulatory and site operations colleagues.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of experience performing analysis or test in Python, Rust, or other software tools.
• 2+ years of experience with RF test equipment such as VNA, spectrum analyzer, etc.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience working with basic RF components including filters, amplifiers, splitters, etc.
• Familiarity with antenna measurement techniques such as anechoic chambers, and related equipment such as network analyzers and spectrum analyzers.
• Experience with theory and testing related to EVM, Noise Figure, power handling metrics (IIP2, IMD), impedance matching, and network analysis.
• Knowledge of digital communication systems including spread spectrum, forward error correction, and modulation types such as PSK and FSK.
• Experience with Python (or other language) for data analysis.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation is determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, and technical capabilities. In addition to base salary, Northwood Space offers long-term incentives such as company stock, stock options, and cash awards, as well as discretionary bonuses for performance. Northwood Space benefits include equity, health care, unlimited vacation, retirement savings, and professional development.

Additional Information:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.