Senior RF Engineer

SEAKR Engineering•Englewood, CO

About The Position

Seeking a talented and highly motivated RF Design Engineer that will contribute to the development of electronic radio-frequency systems for space vehicle applications. The Senior RF Engineer will design front-end RF signal-chain circuits and assemblies for space vehicle communication and signal analysis systems using filters, amplifiers, mixers, couplers, impedance matching networks, and related components. They will also design stable, low-phase noise oscillators and distribution networks, and RF digitizer circuits and assemblies using multi-GSPS ADC/DAC components. The role involves creating sampling and frequency conversion plans for multi-GHz instantaneous bandwidth signals to satisfy communication system and signal analysis requirements, and integrating front-end RF circuits, oscillators, and digitizer assemblies with existing FPGA-based DSP functions. The engineer will cooperate with project teams over the course of RF system development to establish technical requirements, perform system trade studies, conduct design reviews, and track delivery schedule. They will collaborate with RF group members and other SEAKR engineers to ensure multidisciplinary requirements are met, create engineering documentation according to SEAKR’s workflow, and support PCB layout engineers to ensure circuit boards meet RF performance requirements. The role also includes verifying design performance with systematic laboratory measurements of engineering models, leading troubleshooting efforts of questionable RF hardware identified during test, contributing analyses and design alternatives to product and program proposals, and interacting with SEAKR customers to address RF requirements, trades, and constraints. The engineer will effectively balance time spent on multiple concurrent assignments, provide training and guidance to less experienced RF engineers, take a leadership role within the RF Engineering Group to improve hardware development processes, create clear reports, and deliver summary presentations to product and project leadership. The Senior RF Engineer will serve as a technical expert in at least one RF engineering specialty: front-end circuit design and analysis; oscillator and clock design and analysis; 3D EM field modeling of PCB transmission lines and structures; or design verification measurements.

Requirements

BSEE or equivalent degree
A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience
Understanding of RF circuit theory, including transmission line propagation and coupling
Understanding of oscillator and clock circuit operation and key performance parameters
Understanding of RF circuit and signal characterization and key performance parameters: S ij, Z ij, Return Loss, Insertion Loss, SNR, SINAD, SFDR, ENOB, IMD3, NPR, and Noise Figure
Understanding of sampling and signal processing in digital RF systems
Understanding of printed circuit board fabrication and automated assembly processes
Skills in schematic capture (Siemens Xpedition tools preferred)
Skills in RF design and analysis skills using commercial EDA tools (Cadence/AWR Microwave Office or Keysight ADS preferred)
Skills in 3D EM field modeling with CAD tools (Ansys SIwave & HFSS preferred)
Skills in RF component and circuit verification measurements using multi-GHz VNAs, Spectrum Analyzers, Vector Signal Analyzers, Vector Signal Sources, and/or Phase Noise Analyzers
Experience designing front-end RF receiver and transmitter circuits
Experience designing clock generation and distribution circuits with low phase noise
Experience designing local oscillator generation and distribution circuits with low phase noise
Experience in RF circuit board layout and transmission line design
Experience working in collaborative design where success depends on collective efforts
Excellent communication skills
Experience in presenting briefings to internal technical leadership and/or external customers
US Citizenship Required

Nice To Haves

Experience designing direct-sampling or frequency-converting digital RF systems is a plus

Responsibilities

Design front-end RF signal-chain circuits and assemblies for space vehicle communication and signal analysis systems using filters, amplifiers, mixers, couplers, impedance matching networks, and related components
Design stable, low-phase noise oscillators and distribution networks
Design RF digitizer circuits and assemblies using multi-GSPS ADC/DAC components
Create sampling and frequency conversion plans for multi-GHz instantaneous bandwidth signals to satisfy communication system and signal analysis requirements
Integrate front-end RF circuits, oscillators, and digitizer assemblies with existing FPGA-based DSP functions in order to satisfy communication system or signal analysis requirements
Cooperate with project teams over the course of RF system development to establish technical requirements, perform system trade studies, conduct design reviews, and track delivery schedule
Collaborate with RF group members and other SEAKR engineers to ensure that all multidisciplinary requirements can be satisfied in the assigned design projects
Create engineering documentation according to SEAKR’s workflow
Support PCB layout engineers to ensure circuit boards will meet RF performance requirements
Verify design performance with systematic laboratory measurements of engineering models
Perform worst case RF circuit analysis following SEAKR procedures
Lead troubleshooting efforts of questionable RF hardware identified during test
Contribute analyses and design alternatives to product and program proposals
Interact with SEAKR customers to address RF requirements, trades, and constraints
Effectively balance time spent on multiple concurrent assignments
Provide training and guidance to less experienced RF engineers at SEAKR
Take leadership role within RF Engineering Group to improve hardware development processes
Create clear reports and deliver summary presentations to product and project leadership
Serve as a technical expert in at least one RF engineering specialty: front-end circuit design and analysis; oscillator and clock design and analysis; 3D EM field modeling of PCB transmission lines and structures; or design verification measurements