Principal RF Payload Systems Engineer

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Principal RF Payload Systems Engineer to support the development of advanced satellite communications payloads. This position requires a strong technical background in satellite communications payloads, RF systems, spacecraft systems engineering, and mission performance analysis.

The successful candidate will play a key role in payload system development, system-level trade studies, technical assessments, supplier evaluations, and payload integration activities.

The ideal candidate will combine deep RF and payload expertise with strong systems engineering capabilities and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, including spacecraft bus, software, mechanical, thermal, electrical, Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT), and mission operations organizations.

About the Company

The company specialises in highly engineered antenna systems, thermal management solutions, and mission-critical technologies supporting radar, electronic warfare, and C5ISR applications.

Its engineering and manufacturing capabilities support complex, specification-driven requirements across aerospace and defence programmes. The organisation focuses on delivering precision-engineered solutions that meet demanding technical requirements and contribute to national security and mission success.

Core Values

The organisation promotes a culture built around integrity, initiative, impact, and integration. Employees are valued for their contributions and encouraged to take ownership, collaborate across teams, and deliver meaningful results.

The mission-critical technologies developed and manufactured by the business support applications designed to improve national and global security.

Benefits

• Three weeks of paid time off
• Ten paid company-observed holidays
• Birthday and work anniversary incentives
• 401(k) employer matching
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life insurance
• Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Continuing education reimbursement programme
• Employee referral programme

The Role

The Principal RF Payload Systems Engineer will support the development of advanced communications payloads for Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite missions.

The position spans the full payload lifecycle, from mission concept development and requirements definition through design, integration, testing, launch, and in-orbit operations.

The successful candidate will lead and contribute to payload architecture development, systems engineering analysis, performance modelling, hardware selection, supplier engagement, and spacecraft integration activities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Payload Architecture and Design

• Lead the development and evaluation of advanced communications payload architectures for GEO, MEO, and LEO satellite missions.
• Conduct system-level trade studies covering payload capacity, coverage, spectral efficiency, mass, power, thermal resources, and mission performance.
• Assess the impact of payload design changes on spacecraft resources, mission performance, programme schedules, and operational concepts.
• Develop payload block diagrams, interface definitions, and subsystem architectures.

2. Systems Engineering

• Analyse mission requirements and translate them into technical specifications, system-level requirements, engineering constraints, and verification plans.
• Support the development and maintenance of payload requirements, interface control documents, and compliance matrices.
• Contribute to Concept of Operations (CONOPS) development and mission-level performance assessments.
• Support requirements verification, validation, and technical baseline management throughout the programme lifecycle.
• Participate in major programme reviews, including System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), Manufacturing Readiness Review (MRR), Test Readiness Review (TRR), Flight Readiness Review (FRR), and operational readiness reviews.

3. Payload Analysis and Modelling

• Develop and maintain engineering tools, simulations, and performance models used throughout programme execution.
• Conduct payload performance analyses, including:
  • Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) and gain-to-noise-temperature (G/T) budgets.
  • Satellite communications link budget analysis.
  • Conversion gain and loss budgets.
  • Coverage and capacity assessments.
• Develop and execute simulations to evaluate payload performance under operational and environmental conditions.
• Support mission-level performance assessments and sensitivity analyses.

4. Hardware and Supplier Oversight

• Engage directly with payload hardware suppliers and subcontractors to support architecture development, hardware selection, and procurement activities.
• Evaluate active and passive RF hardware for satellite payload applications.
• Review supplier analyses, technical documentation, specifications, and test results.
• Conduct technical assessments of payload design maturity, performance risks, and implementation approaches.
• Participate in technical interchange meetings and design reviews with suppliers and spacecraft bus manufacturers.

5. Integration, Testing and Operations

• Support payload integration, verification, validation, and spacecraft-level testing activities.
• Collaborate with AIT teams to develop test plans, procedures, verification methods, and success criteria.
• Support environmental qualification programmes, including vibration, thermal vacuum, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), electromagnetic interference (EMI), RF performance, and system-level testing.
• Support payload commissioning, in-orbit checkout, anomaly investigations, and operational performance assessments.
• Contribute to operational procedures, payload initialisation, and mission support activities.

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with spacecraft bus, thermal, mechanical, electrical, software, antenna, AIT, and mission operations teams to optimise overall mission performance.
• Support design trade-offs and resource allocation activities across payload and spacecraft subsystems.
• Communicate technical findings, assessments, and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Undertake additional responsibilities as required.

Qualifications and Experience

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in satellite communications, RF systems engineering, payload engineering, or spacecraft systems engineering.
• Experience developing communications payloads for GEO, MEO, and/or LEO satellite systems.
• Strong understanding of satellite subsystems and spacecraft systems engineering principles.
• Experience conducting payload and system-level trade studies.
• Experience supporting payload development through design, integration, testing, and operational phases.

Technical Expertise

Strong technical understanding of:

• RF communications systems and payload architectures.
• Payload performance analysis and budgeting.
• Spacecraft resource management, including power, thermal, mass, and volume constraints.
• Payload integration and verification processes.
• Satellite communications system design and performance evaluation.

Practical experience with:

• Selection of active payload hardware, including Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs), Solid-State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs), Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs), converters, and local oscillators.
• Reflector-based antenna systems and Deployable Reflector Antennas (DRAs).
• Communications payload thermal and power analyses.
• Link budget development and performance assessment.
• Digital payloads, including systems with and without digital beamforming and phased-array antenna systems.

Engineering Tools

Proficiency in:

• MATLAB, Python, STK, or equivalent engineering analysis tools.
• Microsoft Office, Visio, and engineering documentation tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with regenerative payload architectures.
• Experience working in satellite manufacturing and production environments.
• Experience supporting environmental testing, spacecraft integration, and launch campaigns.
• Familiarity with technology readiness assessments, risk reduction planning, and payload qualification programmes.
• Experience supporting in-orbit testing, payload commissioning, and mission operations.
• Familiarity with antenna analysis and modelling tools such as TICRA, GRASP, CST, HFSS, or equivalent software.

Desired Attributes

• Strong systems-thinking capabilities and the ability to understand complex interactions across payload, spacecraft, and mission elements.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to independently lead technical investigations and trade studies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced development environment with evolving mission requirements.

Employment Requirements

• Must provide proof of US citizenship or lawful permanent residency to comply with applicable ITAR requirements.
• Must successfully pass a drug screening in accordance with company policy.
• Must successfully pass a criminal background check in accordance with company policy.

Export Control Compliance

The organisation performs work subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These regulations govern the handling and disclosure of certain technical data, products, and technologies.

Access to controlled technical information may be restricted to individuals who meet applicable US export-control requirements. Eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the relevant regulations and authorisation requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The organisation is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Location: Longmont, Colorado