RF Telemetry Engineer

Vast is looking for an RF Telemetry Engineer, reporting to the Staff RF Engineer, to execute the development of the RF telemetry systems for our Orbiter and Haven Programs. A successful candidate will have experience building software telemetry systems for reliable and complex systems. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

As an RF Telemetry Engineer, you ensure the safe delivery of our Space-to-Earth and Earth-to-Space RF links and establish a robust and telemetry pipeline. This role will ensure the packets get from Point A to Point B! This position will also work alongside Flight Software and RF engineers to create and maintain a series of complex data flows and telemetry pipeline systems to handle and process the airborne telemetry received at our network of ground stations.

Responsibilities: 

• Develop RF telemetry systems for the next generation of crewed space stations, including hardware, software and operations for space station tracking, mission data, payload data, and communications with visiting vehicles.
• Perform telemetry architecture trade studies, packet requirements definition, pipeline design, and manage development for various packet structures and telemetry budgets.
• Create and manage telemetry budgets encompassing inputs/channels across multiple subsystems and teams.
• Study methods to increase telemetry data throughput via established RF links.
• Partner with flight software engineers to develop detailed telemetry maps and construct encoding/decoding schemes for telemetry data.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering, software engineering or other engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of experience with Telemetry system design, and/or various software packet structure types (significant academic projects, internships, and traditional professional experience all qualify).

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Knowledge of CCSDS standard and/or IRIG 106 Telemetry Standards like CH.7 packet transport.
• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, software engineering or similar.
• Ability to creatively solve problems and weigh against multi-disciplinary requirements together while assessing risk and making design and development decisions. 
• Strong sense of accountability and integrity with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in working with GNU Radio and software-defined radios (SDRs).
• Knowledge of space radiation effects on software packet structures and error correction.
• Deep understanding of telemetry systems: RF theory, LDPC, SOQPSK, IRIG 106 CH.4 PCM Encoding.
• Prior experience with network engineering concepts and technologies such as Wireshark, TCP/IP, and UDP.
• Experience with RF receivers such as Semco, Quasonix, GDP, Safran.
• Strong grasp of electronics and RF theory, and hands-on experience with electronics hardware, including both analog and digital.
• Ability to thrive at an early-stage startup where you will have the opportunity to help create and optimize key systems and processes
• Experience with software programming: Matlab, LabVIEW, Python, C/C++, JS, etc.
• Knowledge of RF demodulation, decommutation, FEC and CRC decoding, IRIG or CCSDS decoding techniques, Best-Source Selecting, for use in RF receiving front-end systems.
• Familiarity with LabVIEW or NetAcquire MissionView Dataflow Designer.
• Understanding of digital  signal processing - Nyquist, sampling rates, data decimation, etc.

Pay Range:

• RF Telemetry Engineer I: $90,000-$110,000
• RF Telemetry Engineer II: $110,000-$145,000