Principal Communication Systems Engineer I

CesiumAstro • Austin, TX

2d

About The Position

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are seeking a Principal Communication Systems Engineer I to lead the architecture, integration, and verification of communication systems for satellite and aerospace platforms. This role represents a senior technical authority responsible for system-level design and execution across one or more programs.
You will own key architectural decisions, lead cross-functional integration efforts, and drive system performance from concept through validation. This role combines deep expertise in communication systems with broad systems engineering leadership across payload and mission elements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 9+ years of experience in communication systems, preferably in space applications.
• Strong background in communication theory and RF systems.
• Experience with satellite communication standards (NR NTN, DVB-S2x, CCSDS).
• Proven experience designing and integrating complex communication systems.
• Experience with link budgets, RF analysis, and system performance modeling.
• Hands-on experience with RF lab equipment and test setups.
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering efforts.

Nice To Haves

• Masters Degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Experience with phased arrays, beamforming, or advanced antenna systems.
• Familiarity with FPGA or software-defined radio architectures.
• Experience with CONOPS and mission-level system design.
• Exposure to proposal development or customer interactions.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead end-to-end communication system architecture across payload and spacecraft systems.
• Establish system requirements, interfaces, and performance budgets, ensuring traceability and alignment with mission needs.
• Lead link budget analysis, waveform selection, modem configuration, and data layer design.
• Contribute to CONOPS development and mission-level architecture definition.
• Define and lead integration and verification activities for communication systems.
• Architect and oversee RF & Communication test systems and Special Test Equipment (STE).
• Develop and execute system-level test plans and validation strategies.
• Debug complex system-level issues and drive resolution across teams.
• Evaluate mission needs and translate them into technical requirements and system designs.
• Lead trade studies and performance optimization efforts.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineering on requirements flow-down and traceability.
• Coordinate across multidisciplinary teams to deliver program milestones.
• Support proposal efforts and technical solution development.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams.
• Contribute to best practices and continuous improvement in system design and test.
• Guide lab usage and test infrastructure decisions.

Benefits

• Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

What This Job Offers

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