RF Test Engineer

RF Test Engineer

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 3-5 years of experience in RF testing, with a strong background in spacecraft communication systems and RF test methodologies.
• Deep understanding of RF systems, including spacecraft radios, antennas, and communication components, and the ability to design and execute tests to validate their performance in space environments.
• Experience with RF test equipment, including signal generators, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, power meters, and other specialized RF test equipment.
• Strong experience in designing and implementing RF test racks, including satellite modems, up/down converters. Focusing on expanding and enhancing existing RF test setups to accommodate different spacecraft radios and mission needs.
• Familiarity with testing spacecraft communication systems, including different modulation schemes, frequency bands, signal integrity, and interference testing.
• Knowledge of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing, including the ability to test satellites for compliance with EMI/EMC standards.
• Proficiency in RF test automation and the ability to develop automated test scripts for more efficient testing, data collection, and analysis.
• Strong data analysis skills, with the ability to identify trends, anomalies, and performance issues in RF test data and troubleshoot issues effectively.
• Excellent documentation and reporting skills, with the ability to produce clear, detailed reports and test logs for internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams and provide technical guidance to both test engineers and system engineers.
• Attention to detail in RF testing, ensuring that all systems are properly configured, tested, and validated according to mission requirements.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple test campaigns in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with RF engineers and test teams to develop test environments, procedures, and setups for spacecraft RF systems, ensuring compatibility with various radios and communication systems used in space missions.
• Design, develop, and execute Radio test procedures and scripts for validating the performance, efficiency, and reliability of spacecraft radios, including testing for signal integrity, modulation schemes, power levels, frequency response, and noise levels.
• Support the integration of RF subsystems into spacecraft, ensuring all RF components are correctly configured, validated, and integrated with other spacecraft subsystems.
• Expand and improve existing RF test racks, adding capabilities and functionality to meet the growing needs of spacecraft RF testing and ensuring they support multiple test scenarios for different spacecraft radios.
• Lead RF test campaigns for spacecraft radios, including initial hardware testing, environmental testing (thermal, vibration, EMI/EMC), and integration testing, ensuring that all components of the RF subsystem meet mission and performance requirements.
• Analyze Radio test data, identifying issues, anomalies, or areas for improvement and working cross-functionally with engineering teams to resolve them efficiently.
• Work cross-functionally with systems engineers, avionics teams, and hardware engineers to ensure that RF test setups are integrated into the overall spacecraft test and development process.
• Ensure compliance with RF standards and regulations, including ITAR, MIL-STD, SMC and other aerospace industry standards, to guarantee that all RF testing adheres to the highest quality and regulatory standards.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians in the RF and test teams, ensuring the proper execution of RF tests and the use of appropriate methodologies and tools.
• Document and report RF test results, providing clear and concise reports that detail test findings, anomalies, and recommendations for corrective action.
• Work with the test team to maintain and calibrate RF test equipment, ensuring it is properly set up, calibrated, and ready for use in future testing.
• Assist in troubleshooting and resolving RF subsystem issues encountered during testing, providing detailed analysis and contributing to design improvements when necessary.
• Identify and implement improvements in test procedures, tools, and racks to increase efficiency and effectiveness in RF testing operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in RF testing.
• Experience with spacecraft-specific RF communication systems, such as satellite communication links, ground station communication, and deep space communications.
• Familiarity with spacecraft RF link budgets, signal strength calculations, and power management in space communications systems.
• Experience with RF simulation software (e.g., CST, HFSS, MATLAB) for modeling and validating RF components and systems.
• Experience with environmental testing, including thermal, vacuum, and vibration testing of RF systems to simulate space conditions.
• Familiarity with space mission lifecycle and the role of RF testing in the development, integration, and verification of spacecraft systems.
• Knowledge of industry standards such as DO-160, MIL-STD, and other RF-specific testing standards relevant to space applications.
• Certifications in relevant RF testing or aerospace fields (e.g., RF/microwave engineering certifications) are a plus.