Spacecraft RF Engineer

Motive Workforce is partnering with a Los Angeles-based spacecraft technology company developing custom spacecraft and mission solutions for national science and security applications. We are seeking an experienced Spacecraft RF Engineer to join the flight program team. This role will lead the system-level design, evaluation, PCB layout, testing, and integration of spacecraft radio frequency systems. The engineer will also support EMI/EMC compliance, magnetic cleanliness, and magnetics requirements for spacecraft carrying magnetically sensitive payloads.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead RF system architecture design, link budget analyses, and integration of spacecraft communications subsystems.
• Design and route custom printed circuit boards interfacing with spacecraft subsystems.
• Perform spacecraft-level Electromagnetic Interference and Compatibility (EMI/EMC) analysis and testing.
• Lead magnetic cleanliness efforts, including dipole modeling, stray field budgeting, and hands-on magnetic survey testing of flight hardware.
• Support FCC and NTIA regulatory compliance.
• Document designs, analyses, testing procedures, and results.
• Provide technical guidance on RF test configurations, grounding, and related integration activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on aerospace hardware experience.
• Expertise in spacecraft communications systems and RF link budget analysis.
• Proficiency with PCB design software such as Altium or KiCad.
• Hands-on experience with oscilloscopes, RF test equipment, manual soldering, and hardware rework.
• Experience evaluating, testing, and integrating RF hardware.
• Experience working in clean room environments and following ESD protocols.
• Must possess or be willing and eligible to obtain a United States Department of Defense Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with spacecraft magnetic cleanliness programs, magnetic modeling, or stray field characterization.
• Experience with NASA GEVS standards.
• Knowledge of IPC Class board assembly standards.
• Experience designing electronics specifically for space applications.

Compensation

$150,000 - $190,000 per year Final compensation is based on experience, education, and qualifications.

Benefits

Benefits include paid medical healthcare for employees, flexible vacation, sick days, 401(k) matching, pregnancy leave, family leave, holiday pay, military service leave, dental care, vision care, and additional benefits.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on aerospace hardware experience.
• Expertise in spacecraft communications systems and RF link budget analysis.
• Proficiency with PCB design software such as Altium or KiCad.
• Hands-on experience with oscilloscopes, RF test equipment, manual soldering, and hardware rework.
• Experience evaluating, testing, and integrating RF hardware.
• Experience working in clean room environments and following ESD protocols.
• Must possess or be willing and eligible to obtain a United States Department of Defense Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with spacecraft magnetic cleanliness programs, magnetic modeling, or stray field characterization.
• Experience with NASA GEVS standards.
• Knowledge of IPC Class board assembly standards.
• Experience designing electronics specifically for space applications.

Compensation

$150,000 - $190,000 per year Final compensation is based on experience, education, and qualifications.

Benefits

Benefits include paid medical healthcare for employees, flexible vacation, sick days, 401(k) matching, pregnancy leave, family leave, holiday pay, military service leave, dental care, vision care, and additional benefits.