Principal RF Systems Engineer

Blue Canyon Technologies, RTX's small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider, is solving some of the toughest challenges in space. Our components and bus platforms have completed missions ranging from very-low Earth orbits to lunar and interplanetary journeys at a fraction of the cost of traditional space systems. We support premier defense, commercial and civil organizations including the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, MIT Lincoln Lab, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Colorado and more. Join our innovative and dynamic company as we build, test and operate the small spacecraft of the future.

Position Purpose: The Principal Radio Frequency Systems Engineer will be working in a team environment, with frequent customer engagement, new business development, concept design, detailed design, analysis, integration, and test support, plus on-orbit operations support. This individual is expected to work effectively in multi-disciplined engineering teams where communication and innovation is key.

Title: Principal Radio Frequency Systems Engineer

Position Type: Full Time

Pay Range: $108,000 - $220,000

(Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.)

Location: Lafayette, CO

Benefits:

• 100% company paid health, dental and vision benefits for you and your dependents effective the first of the month following hire date
• Life insurance
• 401k (matching 4% with a minimum 5% contribution)
• Generous PTO (3 weeks of vacation + 3 floating holidays, 2 weeks of sick time, 7 paid holidays throughout the year) and parental leave

 

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop RF subsystem requirements and verification techniques
• Develop RF subsystem designs that meet program technical requirements, cost & schedule
• Evaluate customer use cases and collaborate to develop innovative RF solutions
• Develop and maintain RF link analyses for communications subsystem performance
• Review and provide input to mechanical layout of all components in the RF subsystem
• Develop documentation for externally procured components and work with suppliers, purchasing and contracts for component procurement
• Review and support development of RF hardware interface specifications, CONOPS definition, and space-to-ground ICD
• Develop test plan for the RF subsystem system level testing, support RF testing and review test results
• Participate in NCR and FRB investigations
• Support commissioning and on-orbit operations as needed
• Participate in program meetings with the customer, providing support to RF subsystem and system operational discussions
• Assist with proposals and facilitate technical exchanges with the engineering team
• Work collaboratively with BCT SDR and Antenna component owners on requirements for new SDR and Antenna designs
• Support the BCT team in executing flight programs that meet technical and cost obligation
• Work closely with other contractors/teammates in meeting program specific as well as BCT company-wide needs
• Collaborate closely with other technical leads and diverse domain expertise
• Provide mentoring of RF expertise to other engineers at BCT
• Ensure all business is conducted using the highest ethical standards and in compliance with all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations as well as company policies and directives
• Serves as inspiring leader on area of expertise
• May include personnel management responsibilities
• Other responsibilities as assigned

 

Required Qualifications/Education:

• 12+ years of related experience
• BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required
• Experience as a lead spacecraft systems engineer, lead RF subsystem engineer, and/or lead RF subsystem test engineer
• Advanced skills in RF system design and RF system testing
• Advancedskills with RF test equipment including power meters, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers and RF modems
• Advanced systems engineering skills in RFI/EMI and mitigation
• Excels in a highly collaborative, fast paced environment
• Experience in all phases of the program life cycle (business development, mission formulation, requirements flow-down, manufacturing, integration and test, and on-orbit operations)
• Highly experienced in space communication system design, link budget analysis, component specification / procurement, RF system testing and on-orbit operations
• Ability to conceive and develop RF communications designs across a diverse set of customer needs
• Ability to establish balanced technical and cost solutions
• Familiarity with cryptographic systems, architecture, Type 1 and Suite B cryptography
• Ability to rapidly work with minimal supervision on projects involving both small and large engineering teams
• Experience with satellite communication encryption strategies
• Excellent documentation and communication skills
• Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education

Working Conditions:

This job operates in a professional office environment, but in a manufacturing company. This role uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, filing cabinets and fax machines.  BCT anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require BCT to shorten or extend the application window.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, bend, reach, and walk. The position requires some light physical effort. This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities are required by this job which includes close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Blue Canyon Technologies is a drug-free workplace and an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected factor. Colorado Residents:  In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation.  You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.  Blue Canyon Technologies is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Melissa Po at HR@bluecanyontech.com.