Satellite Communications Engineer

Aerospace Mid-level (L4 equivalent) 2-5 years

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The job description

Tech stack. Link budget tools, RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, VNAs), STK, modem/waveform tools, antenna modeling, Python/MATLAB

About the role

You will join the communications team of a satellite company responsible for the RF links that carry mission data and customer traffic. The team owns link design, payload communications, ground segment interfaces, and on-orbit performance. This role matters because a satellite that cannot communicate is a very expensive paperweight: your link budgets, frequency coordination, and RF engineering determine data throughput, coverage, and the revenue the constellation can actually deliver. You will master the full communications chain from the user terminal through the satellite payload to the gateway, understanding how each element's impairments cascade into end-to-end performance. Your link budgets will be living documents, updated as measured hardware performance replaces predictions, with margins tracked and defended at every review. You will navigate the regulatory landscape pragmatically, building the technical cases that satisfy licensing authorities without over-constraining operational flexibility. As constellations grow more complex, you will tackle the hard problems: inter-satellite links, dynamic resource allocation, and interference management in increasingly crowded spectrum.

What you will achieve

Deliver link budgets meeting availability and throughput requirements with margins above 3 dB across all operational modes
Cut on-orbit link anomalies by 40 percent through pre-launch RF testing: payload characterization, antenna patterns, and end-to-end verification
Own frequency coordination filings (ITU, FCC) with technical justifications that clear regulatory review on schedule
Drive ground segment interface definition: modem waveforms, protocols, and handover procedures validated in test
Ship on-orbit link performance trending that catches degradation early and informs capacity planning
Increase usable system capacity by optimizing adaptive coding and modulation schemes against measured link conditions

What you will bring

Must-haves

2 to 5 years of experience in satellite communications, RF engineering, or wireless systems roles
Deep understanding of link budgets: EIRP, G/T, path loss, atmospheric effects, and modulation/coding tradeoffs
Proficiency with RF test equipment: spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, and noise figure meters
Working knowledge of satellite frequency bands (L through Ka/V) and their regulatory frameworks
Experience with antenna fundamentals: gain, patterns, polarization, and phased arrays as applicable
Familiarity with digital modulation, forward error correction, and multiple access schemes (TDMA, FDMA, CDMA)
Ability to perform interference analysis and coordination studies

Nice-to-haves

Experience with optical (laser) communications terminals
Knowledge of 5G NTN integration or direct-to-device satellite architectures
Exposure to software-defined radios and digital payload architectures
Understanding of ITU filing processes and milestone-based regulations
Experience with phased array calibration and beamforming verification