Vast
RF Systems Engineer
About this role
Vast seeks an RF Systems Engineer to develop communication systems for next-generation spacecraft, including space stations and satellites. You will own RF system requirements, design link budgets, conduct coverage analysis, and lead RF components from development through mission operations, collaborating across mechanical, thermal, test, and integration teams.
What you'll do
- Manage spacecraft RF system requirements, verification plans, and link budgets
- Specify link parameters including modulation, coding, symbol rate, and channel filtering
- Calculate link budgets and estimate data throughput and bit error rates for various mission conditions
- Own one or more RF products through development, testing, integration, and operational phases
- Coordinate cross-functional teams including mechanical, thermal, test, and avionics engineers; manage vendors
- Define and support acceptance, qualification, and checkout testing; serve as SME for mission operations
What they're looking for
- Digital RF communication theory and satellite link budget calculations
- Signal-to-noise figures of merit (C/No, Eb/No, noise figure, EVM)
- Antenna design, gain, directivity, and propagation principles
- Modulation schemes, interference analysis, and channel impairments
- Ansys STK or similar orbital coverage and link analysis tools
- Systems engineering and cross-functional project coordination
- RF component testing, integration, and regulatory compliance documentation
- Vendor management and technical requirements definition
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Vast
Vast develops Haven-1, a human-rated space station, and is hiring design reliability engineers across thermal, structures, propulsion, and avionics systems to ensure safe operations, as well as construction project engineers to support the station's development and construction.
- Website
- vast.com
Likely interview questions
- Walk us through your approach to designing and validating a satellite link budget for a spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
- Describe your experience with RF system tools like Ansys STK and how you've used them to analyze coverage or link variability.