Cowboyspace

Sr. Systems Engineer, Space Communications

San Carlos, California · Senior

Work authorization required$182k-$243kDetected 13 hours ago

MATLABComplianceANSYSSystems EngineeringAerospace EngineeringElectrical EngineeringHardware DesignRF EngineeringSimulinkCommunicationProblem Solving

About the role

You will work across S-band, X-band, K-band and UHF radio systems, performing link budget analysis and system-level performance evaluation to ensure robust, high-reliability communication links for space missions.
The ideal candidate combines strong RF/wireless engineering fundamentals with hands-on experience integrating COTS hardware and validating end-to-end communication system performance.

Design and develop wireless communication systems for satellite platforms, including RF subsystems operating in S-band, X-band, K-band and UHF frequency ranges
Support ground station design, integration, and operational readiness for satellite communication links
Perform link budget analysis and simulation to validate communication link performance across mission scenarios and operating conditions
Perform detailed performance analysis of the designed communication system, including link budget analysis, throughput, latency, and error rate characterization
Develop and execute test plans and validation procedures for RF, antenna, and modem subsystems
Document design decisions, analysis results, and test data, and present findings in design reviews
Collaborate with systems engineering to define communication system requirements and trade studies
Support FCC certification and regulatory compliance efforts for RF transmitters, including equipment authorization filings, spurious emissions testing, and coordination with test labs
Ensure RF system designs comply with applicable FCC Part 25 (satellite) and other relevant domestic and international spectrum regulations

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Wireless Communications, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
7+ years of professional experience in wireless communication systems engineering, with a focus on satellite or space-based communication systems
Hands-on experience with S-band, X-band, and UHF radio systems for satellite communication applications
Experience with ground station design, integration, and operations
Experience selecting, architecting, and integrating COTS modem hardware, including component-level validation
Proficiency with wireless/RF test equipment, including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, vector network analyzers, and BERTs
Experience performing communication system performance analysis, including throughput, latency, and error rate characterization
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex RF/communication system issues
Familiarity with FCC certification processes and regulatory compliance requirements for RF transmitting equipment

Master's degree or Ph.D. in RF/Wireless Communications, Electrical Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering
Experience with space-qualified or radiation-tolerant RF hardware design
Familiarity with modulation and coding schemes used in satellite communication (e.g., QPSK, OQPSK, LDPC, Reed-Solomon)
Experience with satellite communication standards and protocols (e.g., CCSDS)
Background in phased array or steerable antenna systems
Experience with RF simulation tools (Ansys HFSS, Keysight ADS, or equivalent) and link budget/system simulation tools (STK, MATLAB/Simulink)
Familiarity with software-defined radio (SDR) platforms
Experience supporting satellite mission operations or field deployment of ground station equipment

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
Lead antenna design, simulation, and validation efforts to meet mission-specific coverage, gain, and pattern requirements

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