Senior RF Systems Engineer

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Senior RF Systems Engineer (Communication Systems)

As a Senior RF Systems Engineer, you will architect, define, and evaluate advanced RF communication systems supporting satellite and ground network products. This role sits at the intersection of customer requirements, product development, and multi-disciplinary engineering—translating mission needs into scalable, high-performance RF architectures and hardware specifications.

You will guide communication products through the entire development lifecycle, bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world deployment. Collaborating closely with electrical, software, and manufacturing teams, you will act as a key technical liaison for customers, ensuring our products deliver robust link performance, regulatory compliance, and seamless system integration at a global scale.

Responsibilities:

• System Architecture & Product Definition: Translate customer requirements and mission needs into top-level RF system architectures, hardware specifications, and product features.

• Customer Engagement: Serve as a primary technical interface for customers, guiding them through system integration, conducting design reviews, and matching product capabilities to their operational needs.

• Link & System Modeling: Develop and maintain end-to-end communication system models, detailed link budgets, and RF lineup analyses (including cascaded noise figure, linearity, and phase noise) to optimize product performance.

• Product Development Lifecycle: Drive RF systems from initial concept and prototyping through regulatory compliance testing, manufacturing scale-up, and field deployment.

• Verification & Validation: Lead integrated system-level testing, validating physical-layer and product-level metrics such as EIRP, G/T, EVM, BER, and throughput under real-world conditions.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with RF design, DSP, embedded software, and product management teams to guide feature implementation and resolve complex system-level anomalies.

• Regulatory & Compliance Support: Assist in securing regulatory approvals (ITU, FCC, etc.) by analyzing spectral compliance, co-existence, and emissions profiles.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• 5+ years of experience in RF systems engineering, communication system architecture, or RF product development.

• Deep understanding of RF front-end architectures, transceiver design, and digital communication theory (modulation schemes, coding, and physical layer protocols).

• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or similar scripting languages for modeling RF lineups, link budgets, and data analysis.

• Hands-on experience with RF laboratory test equipment, including spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, and vector signal generators/analyzers.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven track record in a technical sales, applications engineering, or systems engineering role interfacing directly with external customers or partners.

• Experience bringing commercial RF or wireless communication hardware products from concept through high-volume production.

• Strong expertise in complex link budget modeling, propagation impairment analysis, and interference mitigation.

• Deep familiarity with physical-layer performance optimization, including EVM, BER, PAPR, and adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR).

• Familiarity with satellite or terrestrial wireless standards (e.g., DVB-S2X, 3GPP/5G, CCSDS) and integrated modem architectures.

• Experience working with FCC/NTIA/ITU spectrum regulations and RF compliance testing standards.

Additional Requirements:

• This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiatethe application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, Northwood Space reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

Compensation:

RF Systems Engineer/Level 3: $150,000 - $180,000 per year

RF Systems Engineer/Level 4: $180,000 - $200,000 per year

RF Systems Engineer/Level 5: $200,000 - $230,000 per year

Compensation at Northwood Space is based on role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary depending on job-related skills, education, experience, and technical expertise. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Northwood. In addition to base salary, Northwood Space offers long-term incentives such as company stock options and discretionary performance bonuses. Benefits include equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, flexible spending accounts, flexible time off, 10 or more paid holidays per year, retirement savings plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

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.