Staff RF Systems Engineer

Relativity Space•Long Beach, CA

22h•$175,000 - $263,000

About The Position

The Staff RF Systems Engineer serves as a senior technical generalist and owner for Terran R vehicle RF systems, leading system-level trades and analyses that shape the overall RF architecture. The role develops and maintains end-to-end link budgets for telemetry, command, and video across all flight phases and defines the vehicle RF frequency plan. It also leads antenna placement and coverage trades using installed-pattern simulation and trajectory-driven analysis. The engineer supports multiple radio and RF hardware developments, including generating requirements, conducting design reviews, leading integrated RF testing, and investigating anomalies. The role sets analysis standards for the RF team and mentors junior RF engineers as they grow into independent owners.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
8+ years of RF systems engineering experience on launch vehicles, spacecraft, missiles, or comparable flight systems.
Experience taking flight RF hardware such as antennas, harnessing, or radios from design through qualification.
Strong command of RF system fundamentals, including link budgets, antenna theory, interference, and EMI/EMC requirements such as MIL-STD-461/464.
Ability to lead technical work across disciplines and mentor other engineers.
Hands-on experience with RF test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, and EMI receivers.
Proficiency with full-wave EM simulation tools such as HFSS, FEKO, or CST, and with Python or MATLAB for analysis and automation.

Nice To Haves

Experience with launch range RF interfaces and validating high-dynamics link performance.
Experience with telemetry standards such as IRIG-106.
Familiarity with spectrum management and frequency authorization processes, including NTIA and FCC.
Experience with STK or other trajectory-based coverage analysis tools.
Experience managing RF hardware suppliers through qualification and production.

Responsibilities

Own Terran R vehicle RF systems as a senior technical generalist and lead system-level trades and analyses that drive the overall RF architecture.
Develop and maintain end-to-end link budgets for telemetry, command, and video across all flight phases.
Define the vehicle RF frequency plan.
Lead antenna placement and coverage trades using installed-pattern simulation and trajectory-driven analysis.
Support radio and RF hardware development, including requirement generation and design reviews.
Lead integrated RF testing and anomaly investigations.
Set analysis standards for the RF team.
Mentor junior RF engineers as they develop into independent owners.