Principal Engineering Technician

CesiumAstro•Westminster, CO

About The Position

CesiumAstro is seeking a Principal Engineering Technician for its Skylark product line, which designs, builds, and tests active phased array antennas for terrestrial and airborne applications. The technician will work closely with engineers to create antenna and RF test setups, execute test plans, troubleshoot complex RF systems, and produce timely, reliable test results. The role involves using and maintaining electronics laboratory instrumentation, including anechoic chambers, spectrum analyzers, VNAs, signal generators, oscilloscopes, and automated power supplies and loads. The position focuses on testing, troubleshooting, and characterizing electronics and RF circuitry from component to system level. Products may incorporate active RF circuitry, digital control, power, and thermal effects, adding complexity to test architecture. The technician will contribute to process improvements and efficient, repeatable test methods, and will interpret engineering drawings, diagrams, schematics, and test procedures while improving test execution and documentation. The company describes its work environment as dynamic, cross-functional, and startup-oriented, where team members may multitask across test setup creation and execution, equipment maintenance, documentation, lab organization, and cross-functional support. Applicants must meet U.S. Government space technology export eligibility requirements.

Requirements

At least 7 years of directly related experience as an Engineering Technician or RF Technician.
Experience working with active electronics and RF systems.
Hands-on experience with laboratory instruments such as spectrum analyzers, VNAs, RF signal generators, oscilloscopes, DMMs, and power meters.
Experience troubleshooting RF systems and interpreting measurement data with minimal supervision.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot complex RF systems independently.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Comfort using collaboration tools such as MS Teams, SharePoint, Confluence, and Jira.
Ability to work under deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.
Strong digital, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to read and interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering documentation.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee, or refugee, or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with phased array or AESA testing.

Responsibilities

Execute RF and antenna test plans and provide concise, accurate, and timely reporting of findings.
Organize, maintain, and improve antenna testing facilities, equipment, and laboratory resources.
Create and own the setup, troubleshooting, and characterization of sensitive electronics, including QFNs, chip-scale ICs, RF cables, and 0201 passive components.
Build, maintain, and troubleshoot complex RF test setups consisting of instrumentation, cabling, switching, and devices under test.
Create detailed documentation and provide feedback to maintain a high standard of quality and attention to detail.
Assist in developing standardized test procedures and improving laboratory efficiency and repeatability.
Collaborate with engineering teams to diagnose and resolve RF, power, thermal, and digital integration issues.
Support calibration, maintenance, and verification of laboratory instrumentation and equipment.