Principal RF Payload Lead Engineer - Mountain View (Hybrid) - Scale-up - Equity Included
About the Role:
We are seeking a Principal RF Payload Lead Engineer to take end-to-end ownership of the architecture, design, development, and on-orbit performance of RF communications payloads for direct-to-device satellite connectivity. You will lead the complete technical solution, spanning requirements, system architecture, hardware delivery, integration, testing, and mission operations support. As
Key Responsibilities:
Own the complete payload architecture, including phased-array antennas, RF front ends, frequency planning, and waveform selection aligned with cellular standards.
Lead phased-array design and analysis, focusing on beamforming strategies, scan performance, EIRP, G/T, coverage optimization, and handover mechanisms.
Manage end-to-end link budgets, modulation and coding, Doppler compensation, interference analysis, and regulatory considerations.
Oversee functional testing, RF performance verification, over-the-air (OTA) testing, and environmental qualification.
Partner with RAN and core network engineering teams to ensure full compatibility with 3GPP and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) behavior across satellite links.
Requirements: 8+ years of experience in RF or communications systems engineering.
Demonstrated expertise in phased-array antennas, EM solvers, RF simulation tools, and laboratory test equipment (e.g., VNAs, Spectrum Analyzers).
Deep technical understanding of cellular standards (4G LTE, 5G NR) and 3GPP NTN satellite architectures.
Proven track record of taking RF systems from initial architecture through build, test, and production deployment.
