Senior Radio Frequency Ground Stations Engineer

Senior Radio Frequency Ground Stations Engineer

About Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines is an innovative and cutting-edge space company making cislunar space accessible to both public and private customers. Our mission is to further science and exploration, communications, and economic progress from the Earth to the Moon and beyond. With the first commercial lunar landing in history, multiple NASA lunar missions in development, to building the future of space communications infrastructure, we pride ourselves in supporting our customers and the nation in paving the way to return humans to the surface of the Moon. Our world-class team includes experts in all aspects of spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.   

About The Position 

As part of the recent NASA Near Space Network Services (NSNS) contract award, we are seeking a highly skilled Senior RF Ground Stations Engineer to join the technical design, development, and implementation of advanced RF systems across our ground stations network. This role is highly technical in nature, requiring deep expertise in RF engineering and systems integration to ensure the reliability and performance of the LDN in support of current and future cislunar market needs.

Responsibilities: 

• Lead & partner with other senior team members in the design, development, and optimization of RF subsystems, including antennas, transmitters, receivers, and signal processing units, to ensure reliable communication and data relay across cislunar space and the lunar surface.
• Lead & partner with other senior team members in development and execution of test plans for ground station hardware, encompassing: Base Band Units (BBUs), AWS cloud infrastructure, RF systems, mission control center systems, and other critical ground element
• Monitor the performance of RF systems and perform troubleshooting as needed to ensure maximum uptime and signal quality. Identify and mitigate potential sources of interference or signal degradation.
• Provide senior-level technical guidance and direction to RF engineering teams working on the development and installation of ground station systems, ensuring that all technical objectives are met according to project timelines and mission needs.
• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to address technical, financial, and operational challenges. Implement robust risk management practices to safeguard program success.
• Develop and manage program budgets, ensuring efficient allocation of resources. Monitor financial performance and implement corrective actions as necessary.
• Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive landscape. Utilize this knowledge to drive innovation and maintain Intuitive Machines' leadership position in the cislunar market.

Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field; a Master’s degree or PhD is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 10 years of hands-on experience in RF systems engineering, with a focus on ground station design, satellite communications, or space mission support.
• Deep expertise in RF system design, development, and testing, including knowledge of antennas, transceivers, modulation techniques, and signal processing in a ground station or satellite communication environment.
• Proven track record of integrating RF systems with broader network architectures, including ground station control systems, relay satellites, and mission operations centers.
• Familiarity with spacecraft design and operations, including one or more of the following: hardware, software, flight control, flight dynamics, orbital mechanics, communications (RF), power systems, avionics, ground support systems (command, telemetry) 
• Real-time spacecraft/satellite operations, preferably spanning multiple disciplines or functions 
• Fundamental grasp of networking principles and protocols (TCP/IP, DHCP, UDP, routing) 

EEO Statement 

Intuitive Machines is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.