RF Systems Engineer

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite , a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.

Headquartered in Long Beach, California , and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for a RF Systems Engineer , reporting to the Director, RF Engineering , to execute the development of the RF Systems for spacecraft including space stations and satellites.

As a RF Systems Engineer, you will manage communication system requirements and verification for space stations and satellites. Your responsibilities will include RF system design, link budgets, satellite coverage analysis, and definition of system concepts-of-operation (CONOPs). You will be expected to own one or more RF components and to collaborate with your mechanical, thermal, test, integration, and mission assurance engineering counterparts to guide those components through testing, integration, and operation during the mission.

This will be a full-time , exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

Own and manage spacecraft RF system requirements and verification plan

Specify link parameters including modulation, error correction coding, symbol rate, and channel filter

Calculate link budgets, considering data throughput requirements, link conditions, and ground station characteristics

Estimate the expected data throughput and bit error rate based on your link budgets

Maintain link budgets with consideration to on-vehicle antenna patterns, cable losses, radio specifications, and channel conditions for the expected orbit

Support regulatory license applications by providing required analyses such as power flux density and antenna contours

Use standard tools such as Ansys STK to estimate coverage and link variability during real mission orbit scenarios

Document and review your work output with peers through trade studies and design reviews

Own one or more RF products from development testing through mission operation

Be a center of subject matter expertise over your RF components in the context of the overall RF system

Plan the design, manufacturing, testing, integration, and delivery to the vehicle and coordinate the schedule with interfacing teams and project management

Manage relationships with cross-functional teams including mechanical engineers, test engineers, manufacturing engineers, thermal engineers, and avionics engineers

Manage vendors and clearly communicate requirements, deliverables, and schedule

Define test plans and procedures for acceptance and qualification testing

Define and document checkout tests to validate proper operation during and after integration at the vehicle level

Support mission operations as a subject matter expert on the spacecraft RF system

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in ECE, EE, Physics, or related STEM discipline

Familiarity with digital RF communication theory, components, and fundamentals

Satellite Link budgets

Satellite link figures of merit including

G/T ratio

Signal-to-noise figures of merit including C/No, Eb/No, etc

Error vector magnitude (EVM)

Noise figure

Bit error rate

Modulation schemes

Interference

IQ modulators

Channel impairments

EIRP

Free space path loss (FSPL)

Doppler shift

Familiarity with antennas and propagation

Antenna gain/directivity

Antenna polarization

Experience with RF measurements and concepts

Spectrum analyzers

Noise bandwidth

Experience with RF fundamentals

S-parameters

Experience in programming

Data analysis tools

Experience with product management

Vendor management

Design reviews

Requirements and verification

Preferred Skills & Experience:

MS or PhD in ECE, EE, Physics, or related stem discipline

Work experience

Startup experience

Aerospace experience

Design for space

Testing for space environments

EMI/EMC testing

Environmental testing

SMC-S-016 test requirements for launch vehicles

RF measurements

Spectral mask

Spur measurements

Experience with analysis software

STK

Python

Matlab

RF for satellite communications

Orbital mechanics

P1dB

Transmission line loss

Spectral regrowth

Harmonic distortion

RF passive components

Satellite communications standards

CCSDS

DVB-S2

DSP for RF communications

Receiver synchronization

Shannon theory

Nyquist sampling theorem

Forward error correction

Antenna/propagation effects

Multipath

Axial ratio

Cross-polarization

Pay Range: California

$120,540 — $209,520 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast 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.