RF Hardware Team Lead

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.

Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

RF Hardware Team Lead

The RF Hardware Team Lead is responsible for the end-to-end execution of various RF units across our satellite, spanning technical design, team leadership, and cross-functional execution. Your team will consist of direct reports with responsibilities that span RF system design and analysis, PCB design, test and measurement, supporting satellite integration, and vendor procurements.As a team leader you will oversee cradle to grave hardware development: architecture definition, board design, testing, qualification, and post launch support. You will develop the technical capabilities of your team members and collaborate with the other electrical engineering organizations to drive process improvement, implement best practices, and incorporate lessons learned.Ideal Candidate:

• An individual who has built and overseen the entire design cycle of RF units for GEO space telecommunications satellites

• Proven record of delivering custom designed hardware that spans the entire range of signal chain design, RF system design, digital/power interfaces, and electro-mechanical integration

• Experience with design and analysis of payloads for satellite communications, including key component selection and vendor management

• History of leading small teams and mentoring employees, strong communication skills, and ability to make high impact decisions under uncertainty.

Role

• Lead and develop a team of electrical engineers to design high performance, highly flexible RF front end components for space!

• Oversee and manage design workflows for highly complex PCBAs operating from baseband to 50+ GHz

• Architect communications payload hardware designs to achieve the most efficient and flexible communications payloads, integrating them with the rest of the spacecraft

• Ensure competitiveness through continuous technical innovation and industry expertise

Requirements

• B.S. or higher in electrical or computer engineering, or similar technical degree

• Strong experience in RF/analog hardware design or application. Examples include frequency converters, SSPA, LNA, PLL, RFIC, etc

• Experience simulating RF circuits using HFSS, Keysight ADS, or similar tools

• Expert PCB-level experience designing hardware from concept through production (schematic capture, layout, bring-up, characterization, etc)

• Experience using standard lab equipment to take RF measurements (signal analyzer, VNA, etc)

• Proven leadership through project management, mentorship, or people management experience

• A passion for hardware development, including working in a fast-paced environment and hands-on design

Bonus

• Experience with Altium or similar EDA tools for high-complexity PCB design

• Background in theory and measurement of radio nonidealities (HD, IMD, IQ imbalance, gain ripple, group delay distortion, etc)

What we offer:

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary
$150,000—$225,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.