Cowboyspace

Electrical Engineer, Optics and RF

San Carlos, California

Work authorization required$128k-$175kDetected 6 hours ago

ANSYSPCB DesignAltiumCadenceAvionicsEMI/EMCSystems EngineeringElectrical EngineeringHardware DesignRF EngineeringCommunicationProblem Solving

About the role

The Avionics Team is looking for an RF Engineer to design, develop, and validate the RF hardware that enables communication, telemetry, command and control, and high-bandwidth data transport across our spacecraft platforms.
This role is heavily focused on board-level RF design and integration, working closely with electrical, PCB layout, firmware, and test engineers to deliver high-performance RF subsystems capable of operating reliably in the space environment.
You will own RF circuitry from architecture through flight qualification, helping build the communications backbone of the orbital economy.

Design RF driver and receiver circuitry for optical communication links supporting data rates upto 50 Gbps
Develop end-to-end RF signal chain architecture for laser diode drivers, modulators, and photodetector front-ends
Design and lay out high-speed RF/analog PCBs, including specialized stack-ups tailored for RF signal integrity and impedance control
Perform signal integrity analysis, including impedance matching, crosstalk mitigation, and eye-diagram/jitter optimization for high-speed links
Collaborate with optics and photonics engineers to co-design electrical-to-optical and optical-to-electrical interfaces
Support the design, integration, and testing of free-space optical communication terminals, including transmitter and receiver electronics
Conduct RF circuit simulation (S-parameter analysis, transmission line modeling) and validate designs through lab measurement and characterization
Document design decisions, test results, and contribute to design reviews and technical roadmaps

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Photonics, or related field
5+ years of professional experience designing RF circuitry for high-speed communication systems
Direct experience with free-space/open-space laser communication systems
Proven experience working with high-speed RF communication links in the 1 Gbps to 50 Gbps range
Proficiency with RF simulation and design tools (ADS, HFSS, or equivalent) and PCB design tools (Altium, Cadence Allegro)
Experience with lab test and measurement equipment for high-speed RF characterization (network analyzers, BERTs, oscilloscopes, eye-diagram analysis)
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to debug complex RF/optical system issues

Knowledge and hands-on experience with opto-silicon (silicon photonics) design and integration
Experience with space-qualified or radiation-tolerant RF/optical hardware design
Familiarity with laser diode driver ICs, transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), and high-speed modulator technologies
Experience with pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) subsystems for free-space optical terminals
Understanding of link budget analysis and optical power/noise trade-offs for free-space channels
Familiarity with fiber-optic component integration (photodiodes, laser diodes, optical amplifiers)
Experience with EMI/EMC mitigation techniques for high-speed RF/optical systems
Technical Skills & Tools:

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position.
It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities.
Contents are subject to change at Cowboy Space Corp.'s discretion.
Cowboy Space Corp. is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) retirement savings plan
Paid parental leave
The actual base salary offered will depend on factors such as job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

This listing is sourced directly from Cowboyspace's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.