Sr. RF Engineer

Planet is seeking an experienced RF and Microwave Engineer to develop next-generation onboard, ground radios, and antenna systems for their small satellite bus. The engineer will be responsible for designing and improving the performance, reliability, and cost of the communication subsystems, including radios and antennas. They will collaborate with cross-functional teams and work closely with systems engineering, missions, and manufacturing teams to ensure mission success. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in RF/MW hardware design, electromagnetics, and signal processing, as well as excellent documentation and communication skills.

• Develop next-generation onboard and ground radios and antenna systems for satellite communications
• Make improvements in performance, reliability, and cost of RF and Microwave systems
• Design S-band through Ka-band radios and a variety of antennas
• Conduct PCB layout projects and address challenging design issues
• Conduct environmental and EMC testing on communication subsystems
• Work closely with systems engineering, missions, and manufacturing teams to ensure mission success
• Design and simulate RF/MW hardware transceivers and circuits
• Perform RF/MW system design, link budgets, and interference analysis
• Conduct EMI testing and mitigation
• Design, simulate, and test antennas
• Develop digital communications theory and signal processing algorithms
• Validate and verify radios and antennas pre-shipment and after satellite launch
• Review low-level design decisions and understand their impact on the larger system/mission
• Adapt and learn multiple skills to contribute to the design of a complex system
• Excellent documentation, presentation, and communication skills
• Experience with Altium or similar EDA tools and high-density PCB design
• Knowledge of digital communications theory and associated signal processing algorithms
• Experience in Linux, Python, and data analysis tools
• Ability to work in an agile, fast-paced environment with uncertainty and ambiguity
• Understanding of cross-team dependencies in electrical, software, mechanical, thermal, structural, manufacturing, and space environmental aspects.

• BSEE is required, MS/PhD preferred
• 6+ years of engineering excellence designing and maturing RF & MW systems, transceivers, antennas and/or SDRs to market, ability to review low-level design decisions and understand their impact to the larger system/mission
• Strong fundamentals in RF/MW, electromagnetics, and signal processing
• Proven track record of supporting and criticizing RF layout, RF circuit design and component selection
• Ability to adapt and learn a multitude of skills in order to develop/contribute to the design of a complex system including but not limited to active RF circuits, transceivers, PLL synthesizers, mixers, switches, RF amplifiers, oscillators, detectors, filters, and other building blocks for space and ground station applications
• Excellent documentation, presentation and communication skills
• Experience with Altium or similar EDA tools, high-density PCB design, high speed clock trees
• Knowledge of digital communications theory and associated signal processing algorithms for both narrowband and wideband data transmission systems
• Experience in Linux, Python, and data analysis tools
• Excited by working in an agile, fast-paced environment, even in times of uncertainty and ambiguity
• Understanding of cross-team dependencies including electrical, software, mechanical, thermal, structural, manufacturing and Space environmental.

• Comprehensive Health Plan
• Wellness program and onsite massages in specific offices
• Flexible Time Off
• Recognition Programs
• Commuter Benefits
• Learning and Tuition Reimbursement
• Parental Leave
• Offsites and Happy Hours
• Volunteering Benefits