Antenna Test Engineer

Astranis is on a mission to bridge the digital divide by connecting the four billion people worldwide who currently lack internet access. We're doing this by building the next generation of smaller, more cost-effective spacecraft to bring the world online. 

As a team, we’ve launched two satellites into orbit,  signed ten commercial deals worth over $1 billion in revenue, raised over $500 million from top global investors, and recruited a team of over 300 world-class engineers. We all work out of our (legendary) San Francisco office, which was once used to build ships during the World Wars.

Our satellites, which operate from geostationary orbit (GEO), weigh only 400 kg and utilize a proprietary software-defined radio payload. Each satellite can connect over two million people, and we’re very excited for the impact we’ll soon have in the Philippines, Peru, Mexico, and more! 

Backed by substantial funding and a passionate, collaborative team, we offer a rewarding work environment where you'll learn and make a significant impact, no matter where you are in your career. 

Apply and join us on our journey towards global connectivity!

As an RF and antenna test engineer at Astranis, you will be responsible for developing and conducting tests of diverse antenna systems, and analyzing and documenting that data. Astranis GEO communication satellites rely on a wide array of antenna systems and RF components to fulfill their missions, and so the successful candidate must be proficient in test and analysis of many RF/antenna systems including reflector antennas, aperture and horn antennas, waveguides and waveguide-based ortho-mode transducers (OMT’s), polarizers, filters and diplexers, RF PCB’s, and more. You’ll measure antenna patterns, polarization purity, isolation, passive intermodulation (PIM), insertion and return loss, and sometimes EMI/EMC. Ultimately you'll prove that our designs work across environments to guarantee success on orbit.

In an ongoing effort to improve and standardize our test methods and infrastructure, you’ll procure and operate test hardware, work with mechanical engineers to design test fixtures, write test automation and analysis scripts, interface with various test and subsystem stakeholders, as well as with external test and hardware vendors. Familiarity with nearfield and farfield antenna test ranges, vector network and spectrum analyzers, calibration procedures, power supplies, and amplifiers and filters is required. Occasional travel to offsite test facilities is required.

Finally, strong verbal and written communication skills are invaluable in this role as the antenna team collaborates with other engineering disciplines to design and test hardware and eventually provide functioning systems to production. Astranis is developing multiple programs in parallel so an ability to multi-task and support simultaneous test campaigns is needed in this role.

This is an onsite role located at a world-class satellite design and integration facility in San Francisco, California.

Role

• Operate and maintain farfield antenna test range, EMI/EMC range and RF bench test instruments including VNA’s and Spectrum Analyzers.
• Design, develop and implement the RF test hardware, calibration and test procedures, fixtures and test automation.
• Analyze measured data based on an understanding of theoretical and expected performance. Document and share results.
• Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-growing team.

Skills and Experience

• Experience in antenna and RF fundamentals and electromagnetics theory. Beneficial to have experience testing and measuring mmW devices.
• Firm understanding of RF measurement theory and practice, including error budgets for measurements.
• Proficient user of vector network analyzer (VNA), Spectrum/Signal analyzers, power meters, and calibration methods for waveguide and coaxial transmission lines.
• Some familiarity with electromagnetic modeling tools such as Ansys HFSS or CST.
• Demonstrated programming experience in Python or Matlab. This role entails generating and modifying analysis and test scripts.
• Experience working in anechoic chambers and designing RF test solutions and fixtures.

Education

• Degree in EE or related field, preferably specializing in RF.
• 2+ years of experience working in a hardware environment.