Principal Sustaining Engineer I

CesiumAstro•Austin, TX 78701, US• Contract

Posted 18 hours ago• Aerospace Engineering

Job Description

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are looking to add a Principal Sustaining Engineer I to our team. If you enjoy working in a startup environment, and are passionate about circuit theory, troubleshooting, and truly enjoying discovering the root cause when problems arise, we would like to hear from you.

In this position, you will provide engineering support and practical problem-solving in a dynamic, high-paced production setting. This role ensures the manufacturability, testability, and reliability of RF products, drives root cause analysis for production issues, and supports continuous improvement initiatives. Success in this position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams and a proactive mindset for resolving technical issues on the production floor.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide hands-on technical support for RF/microwave products during production, ensuring smooth manufacturing operations.

Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis of RF-related production issues, including yield losses, test failures, and product deviations.

Support Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and transition to consistent production.

Review designs, drawings, and working plans to improve products and manufacturing process, including Root Cause and Corrective Action for production support problems.

Perform engineering work and applied research with Test Equipment group to ensure quality standards and functional objectives are met.

Develop and improve RF test procedures, equipment setups, and data analysis methods.

Collaborate with design engineering teams to influence DFM (Design for Manufacturability) and DFT (Design for Test) practices.

Drive process improvements to enhance product performance, reduce costs, and increase throughput.

Provide hands-on engineering guidance and real-time problem-solving within a fast-paced production environment.

Monitor yields, test margin and resolution of technical issues impacting production.

Investigate and propose solutions to complex problems involving the design and production of complex RF and baseband communications hardware (RF and analog circuitry).

Lead problem containment and structured root cause & corrective action investigations.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor of Science (BS) degree or higher in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university.

Minimum of 9 years of relevant experience supporting a production environment.

Experience in the design, production and test of microwave communications hardware and assemblies.

Strong knowledge of RF circuit design, RF testing techniques, signal integrity, and troubleshooting skills.

Proficiency in using RF test equipment such as VNAs, spectrum analyzers, power meters, and signal generators.

Ability to collaborate across functional teams with a proactive approach to addressing technical challenges on the production floor.

Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.

Excellent written and spoken communication skills.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

RF circuit design simulation skills.

This position crosses the boundaries between Engineering and Operations – expertise in both domains is desired.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.