RF Test Engineer

Vast is looking for an RF Test Engineer, reporting to the Director, RF Engineering, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. The RF Test Engineer will help develop and deploy creative test solutions for complex RF communications and antenna systems for artificial gravity space stations, your work will be vital in testing new and existing RF hardware to support Vast’s mission. Help us make the communication systems that will advance human spaceflight!

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with RF and antenna engineers to design and build state of the art automated test systems for component level and vehicle level applications.
• Test automation software development for test instruments, data processing, test sequencing, and reporting.
• Define RF test system requirements and specifications.
• Support spacecraft RF test activities such as OTA, EMI/EMC, antenna pattern measurement, and system checkouts.
• Hands on environmental test for RF hardware (thermal cycling, TVAC, random vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, humidity, etc) as well as supporting spacecraft integration test in cleanroom facilities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in ECE, EE, Physics, or related STEM discipline.
• 2+ years in an RF design and/or test role.
• Experience with RF test equipment such as Spectrum Analyzers, Vector Network Analyzers, Signal Generators, Communications Test Systems, Power Meters, etc.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Ms in ECE, EE, Physics, or related stem discipline.
• Mission oriented mindset with a strong desire for team success.
• Comfortable communicating deeply technical topics to a wide variety of audiences.
• Experience with GNU Radio and software-defined radios (SDRs).
• Understanding of RF modulation and media access control schemes such as BPSK, SOQPSK, GMSK, APSK, TDMA, FDMA, etc.
• Familiarity with IP networking and ethernet connected test instruments.
• Experience with serial communication protocols such as CAN, SPI, and I2C, RS-422/485.
• Understanding of RF schematics and RF electronics manufacturing.
• Experience with software development: Matlab, LabVIEW, Python, C/C++, etc.
• Familiarity with space rated avionics test standards such as SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000, MIL-STD-461, etc.

Pay Range:

• RF Test Engineer: $120,000 - $150,000
• Senior RF Test Engineer: $140,000 - $170,000