Senior Communication Systems Engineer - Spacecraft

CesiumAstro•Westminster, CO

6d•$133,000 - $161,000

About The Position

CesiumAstro is seeking a Senior Communication Systems Engineer to own the design, configuration, and operation of space-to-ground communication links for its LEO communications satellites. The role defines satellite communications in nominal and off-nominal conditions to support reliable command, telemetry, and fault recovery. The successful candidate brings systems-engineering expertise, experience with space-based communication payloads and ground terminals, and the ability to coordinate across multidisciplinary engineering teams. The engineer will model and maintain RF link budgets, select modulation and coding approaches, architect hardware-based cryptographic solutions, and define radio use across mission phases, including contingency and emergency recovery. The role also supports RF link testing and end-to-end validation with flight software and ground teams, while optimizing low-SWaP communications, mitigating interference, and ensuring robust, fail-safe links. U.S. citizenship, qualifying immigration status, or eligibility to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations is required under space technology export regulations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field.
At least 5 years of experience in satellite communications, RF systems engineering, or related fields.
Experience designing, verifying, and operating satellite communication links.
Strong understanding of link-budget analysis, modulation schemes, and ground-station interfaces.
Hands-on experience configuring and testing ground-station equipment and space-qualified radios and antennas.
Practical understanding of how space links fail, why they fail, and how to address failures proactively.
Ability to define and implement communication system CONOPS for nominal and emergency operations.
Experience with satellite communication link licensing and regulatory compliance, including ITU/FCC.
Strong practical crypto experience, including COMSEC plan development, key management, and system troubleshooting.
Ability to coordinate across flight software integration, ground operations, and other mission functions.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee, refugee, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Responsibilities

Model, analyze, and maintain satellite link budgets, modulation, and coding for reliable space-to-ground RF links.
Architect hardware-based crypto solutions for flight hardware and manage pass-throughs and endpoints for users and operations.
Troubleshoot issues involving commercial providers, ground-station networks, and on-site terminals.
Define radio use across mission phases, including contingency operations and emergency recovery.
Contribute to the RF link test campaign and work with flight software and ground teams to validate end-to-end communication performance from antenna to command center.
Optimize low-SWaP communications, mitigate interference, and ensure robust, fail-safe links.
Define and implement communication system CONOPS for nominal and emergency operations.
Support satellite communication link licensing and regulatory compliance with ITU and FCC requirements.