RF Communications Engineer, Space

ABOUT THE TEAM

Andurils Space team is dedicated to expanding our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. Were developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested war-fighting domain.

ABOUT THE JOB

As a RF Communications Engineer for our Space team, you will contribute to the design of all satellite communications subsystems to include but not limited to bus TT&C, mission data links, and inter-satellite links. You will be responsible for possessing deep knowledge on RF and optical systems to include link budget ownership, subsystem design, and the integration of NSA-approved Type 1 encryption. You will be responsible for authoring space-to-ground ICDs and become familiar with Andurils ground software enterprise and orbital flight software systems. The Spacecraft Comms team will work closely with related teams, such as the spacecraft design, ground, and flight software, etc., to help improve both the ground and satellite-based capabilities, but above all else will be responsible for the successful design, test, and operations of the various communications links onboard Andurils fleet of spacecraft.

This role is directly tied to ongoing, funded programs within Andurils Space Business Line. The programs require building and fielding a resilient, software-defined spacecraft systems across numerous mission threads. We work with mission partners and customers to deploy reliable and robust capabilities on operationally-relevant fielding timelines to meet complex challenges across the DOD and IC.

WHAT YOULL DO

• Contribute to the spacecraft communications subsystems for various spacecraft programs in all orbital regimes
• Integrate with legacy systems to unlock 21st-century capabilities
• Develop modern, software-defined approaches to autonomous spacecraft communications leveraging proliferated constellations of ground and space-based assets
• Own space-to-ground and space-to-space ICDs and designs for communication subsystems
• Collaborate across multiple teams to plan, build, and test complex functionality
• Coordinate with end-users, other operators, and customers to turn needs into features while balancing user experience with engineering constraints
• Support challenging schedules during ground testing, launch windows, and on-orbit operations of the spacecraft systems

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong engineering background from industry or school, ideally in areas/fields such as Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Computer Science, or other engineering degree
• Experience conducting spacecraft operations and satellite command and control with an emphasis on system reliability and uptime
• Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex systems and detailed requirements
• Experience with RF subsystem design for space-space and space-ground in multiple orbital regimes
• Experience with optical inter-satellite and optical space-ground systems
• Capable of solving complex technical problems with little oversight
• Clear communication and organizational skills, including creating documentation and training materials
• Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Top Secret SCI security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Python, Go, C++, and/or Linux systems
• A desire to work on critical software and hardware designs in the space domain
• Experience testing comms subsystems in laboratory environments that mimic the space environmental constraints
• Experience with testing/validation leveraging FlatSats, Hardware-in-the-Loop testbeds, and digital spacecraft simulators through nominal and fault scenarios
• Exposure to ground station operations and providers
• Exposure to US satellite operations policy and constraints for relevant mission threads in all orbits