Forward Deployed RF Engineer

northwoodspace • Los Angeles, CA

46d

About The Position

To build the ground station network of the future, Northwood needs to ensure that our RF systems work seamlessly across a wide range of customer missions, environments, and hardware configurations. Our ability to deliver mission-critical data depends not just on what we design, but on how well those designs integrate and perform in the real world. We are looking for a Forward Deployed RF Engineer to lead customer-facing RF integration, validation, and testing efforts. You will be responsible for ensuring compatibility between Northwood’s RF systems and customer payloads, owning the process from initial requirements through on-site integration and mission readiness. This includes hardware-in-the-loop testing, system-level validation, and deep collaboration with both internal engineering teams and external customers. This role is a great fit for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of RF hardware, systems integration, and real-world deployment. You should be comfortable debugging complex RF systems, working hands-on with hardware, and operating in dynamic, customer-driven environments. We care more about your ability to solve problems and deliver working systems than any specific number of years of experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree, in electrical engineering or a related field
• Hands-on experience with RF hardware and lab equipment (e.g., spectrum analyzers, signal generators, network analyzers)
• Experience with software-defined radios (SDRs) and digital communication systems
• Solid understanding of RF fundamentals, including link budgets, interference, and signal integrity
• Strong debugging skills across hardware and system-level issues
• Demonstrated ownership of a system or integration outcome: you built it, tested it, and made it work in the real world

Nice To Haves

• Experience with satellite communications or space systems
• Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and system validation frameworks
• Experience working directly with customers or in field deployment roles
• Knowledge of digital communications standards (e.g., CCSDS, DVB-S2X)
• Experience integrating RF systems with FPGA or embedded platforms
• Comfort working across disciplines, including RF, DSP, firmware, and software
• Experience developing automated test and validation pipelines

Responsibilities

• Own RF compatibility and integration efforts with customer systems, ensuring successful end-to-end mission performance
• Lead hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and integration testing for RF and communication systems
• Validate RF designs against real-world constraints, including customer hardware, link conditions, and mission requirements
• Serve as the technical interface between Northwood and customers for RF-related topics
• Debug and resolve system-level issues across RF, digital, and software boundaries
• Develop and execute test plans for system validation, including lab and field environments
• Work closely with DSP, FPGA, and RF design engineers to ensure designs are robust and deployable
• Support deployment, bring-up, and commissioning of RF systems in the field

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level