Senior RF Test Engineer

Vast is looking for a Senior RF Test Engineer, reporting to the Manager, RF Test Engineering, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.

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 tests 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.
• Experience with software development: Python, Matlab, C/C++, etc.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Master’s Degree 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.
• 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 link budgets, thermal noise, noise figure, EVM, P1dB, Spurs, and Rx sensitivity.
• Familiarity with antenna testing concepts such as gain, directivity, EIRP, and antenna patterns.
• Understanding of RF schematics and RF electronics manufacturing.
• Experience with GNU Radio and software-defined radios (SDRs) and GPS receivers.
• Understanding of RF modulation schemes such as BPSK, QPSK, GMSK, APSK, TDMA, FDMA, etc.
• Experience processing large frequency and time-domain sets of data
• Familiarity with space rated avionics test standards such as SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000, MIL-STD-461, etc.

Additional Requirements:

• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones.

Pay Range:

• RF Test Engineer: $120,054 - $171,108
• Senior RF Test Engineer: $147,600 - $209,520

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.