Senior RF Test Engineer

Senior RF Test Engineer

Department: Avionics

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Redondo Beach

Reporting To: Jake Messner

Compensation: $135,000 - $175,000 / year

As a Senior RF Test Engineer, your core responsibility will be to own RF test strategy for all wireless products at Impulse, define the roadmap for future test needs, and drive cross-team alignment. You will work with RF engineers, RF software engineers, mechanical engineers, and others to meet test needs across a wide range of capabilities. You will work on uplink and downlink radios up to 32GHz, GNSS receivers, desense testing, antennas, and coexistence testing.

• Work with a cross-disciplinary team to define and implement RF test requirements, implement RF test software architecture, and design and build RF test hardware fixtures.
• Design RF acceptance criteria for flight readiness
• Implement scripts to control RF test equipment including spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, antenna test infrastructure, power meters, power supplies, and other devices.
• Design and implement fixtures to test design compatibility with GNSS constellations and ground station infrastructure
• Work with hardware and software engineers to prepare testing for radiation and ground station test programs
• Generate key performance indicator matrices to plan testing for RF products
• Work with ground software teams to develop and test satellite to ground data pipelines

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related technical field
• Experience writing automation scripts for RF hardware test
• Ability to work in the lab with RF equipment including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, network analyzers, GNSS simulators, and software defined radios
• Proficient in testing and troubleshooting RF devices
• 5+ years writing Python, Lab View, TILE, or other test software
• Strong understanding of RF system parameters such as channel power, EVM, modulation, Es/N0, C/N0, and bandwidth
• Experience writing and documenting RF test procedures for use by other engineers and technicians
• Familiarity working with embedded Linux
• Strong software debugging skills
• RF Hardware debugging skills

• Experience testing and troubleshooting microcontrollers and/or FPGA's
• Experience with common RF protocols like SRS4, DVBS-II, and CCSDS
• Analysis or test experience for electronics performance in radiation environments
• Experience with GNU radio flowgraph development and troubleshooting
• Experience implementing RF transmitter and receiver algorithms
• Familiarity with satellite spectrum licensing laws, agencies, and standards
• Experience testing RF devices for regulatory compliance
• Experience in a startup or agile development environment

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on job‑related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full‑time hires, you may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies.

Learn more about the ITAR here.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse 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.