Senior Antenna Design Engineer - Phased Array Antenna & RF Front-End Electronics

Your mission

Deliver antenna elements and phased-array systems that meet spacecraft communication requirements for gain, coverage, polarization, scan performance, and reliability, from early architecture through verified flight hardware.

What you will own

Antenna architecture and design. Translate mission and link requirements into antenna specifications and architectures. Design and optimize antenna elements, arrays, feed structures, and polarization networks for spacecraft applications.
Array performance. Analyze beam steering, beamforming, scan loss, sidelobes, grating lobes, mutual coupling, polarization purity, and array-level gain across required frequencies and scan conditions.
Electromagnetic simulation. Build and validate full-wave models using Ansys HFSS and complementary tools such as CST or FEKO. Run trade studies, parametric analyses, and sensitivity assessments; use MATLAB or Python to automate post-processing and design workflows.
Requirements and trade studies. Evaluate performance, size, mass, power, thermal, structural, deployment, and manufacturing constraints. Document assumptions, risks, margins, and design decisions.
Hardware realization. Partner with RF and mechanical engineers to integrate antenna elements, feed networks, beamforming electronics, spacecraft structure, harnessing, and thermal provisions. Support prototypes, engineering models, and flight-hardware release.
Verification and correlation. Plan and execute antenna characterization, including near-field or far-field measurements. Compare measured results with simulation, isolate discrepancies, and drive corrective action.
Calibration and system integration. Support amplitude and phase calibration approaches and integration with RF, digital beamforming, and spacecraft systems. Help close electrical and mechanical interfaces.
Qualification and production readiness. Support environmental and space qualification activities, including vibration, thermal-vacuum, and radiation testing as applicable. Establish repeatable design, test, and acceptance practices.

How you lead

Technical ownership. Take a design from requirements to verified results, identify decisions that affect mission performance, and keep actions moving to closure.
Sound engineering judgment. Use data and clear tradeoffs to balance array performance, complexity, schedule, and manufacturability. Raise technical risks early.
Cross-functional execution. Work constructively across disciplines and sites, make interfaces explicit, and communicate status and recommendations clearly.
Reusable engineering practice. Document models, analyses, tests, and lessons learned so the team can build on verified knowledge and repeat successful methods.

What you bring

Master’s or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field with a focus on antennas or electromagnetics; equivalent experience may be considered.
Typically 7+ years of hands-on antenna design experience, including phased arrays or other multi-band antenna systems.
Strong understanding of antenna theory, electromagnetics, array theory, beamforming, polarization, mutual coupling, and link-budget concepts.
Advanced experience with Ansys HFSS; experience with CST, FEKO, or equivalent tools is valuable. Proficiency with MATLAB or Python for analysis and automation.
Demonstrated ability to take antenna designs from simulation through hardware integration and measured verification.
Experience with antenna test equipment and near-field or far-field measurement methods; phased-array calibration experience is beneficial.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, technical writing, and cross-functional communication skills.
Space, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability hardware experience is preferred, including familiarity with environmental qualification and design-for-manufacture.

What success looks like

The antenna architecture and array meet approved system requirements across the operating and scan envelope; models are correlated with measured hardware; interfaces and risks are closed in time for integration; and qualification evidence supports release of reliable flight hardware.

Additional Requirements

This is a fast-paced, high-impact environment - flexibility to occasionally work extended hours or weekends during critical periods is expected.