SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 190,000 - 275,000 / annual
True Anomaly is seeking a Principal Space RF Engineer with deep expertise in antenna design and full-wave electromagnetic modeling to lead the development of antenna and RF front-end solutions for space-based systems. In this role, you will own technical efforts from early concept development and electromagnetic analysis through hardware design, testing, integration, and delivery.
You will perform full-wave electromagnetic modeling and simulation of antennas, arrays, feeds, RF structures, and spacecraft interfaces using tools such as HFSS, CST, FEKO, COMSOL, or equivalent. You will analyze antenna gain, radiation patterns, beamwidth, sidelobe levels, polarization, impedance matching, efficiency, isolation, and coupling. You will develop and evaluate fixed-beam, phased-array, electronically steerable, deployable, and conformal antenna architectures, and conduct electromagnetic trade studies considering performance, size, weight, power, thermal environment, packaging, manufacturability, and cost.
Key responsibilities include developing RF front-end architectures (filters, switches, amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, feeds, couplers, RF distribution networks), creating and maintaining antenna models, RF budgets, simulation reports, requirements, and verification plans. You will correlate simulation results with laboratory and antenna-range measurements, support antenna and RF hardware integration, troubleshooting, testing, and qualification, and work with mechanical and spacecraft engineers to resolve packaging, structural, thermal, and electromagnetic compatibility challenges.
You will lead technical reviews and serve as a subject-matter expert for antenna and electromagnetic design, mentor other engineers, establish effective modeling, design, and test processes, and support customer engagements, proposals, and new business opportunities. The role is based near Centennial (Denver) or Long Beach, with a hybrid work environment requiring some on-site presence.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electromagnetics, Physics, or related field (Master's or Ph.D. preferred)
- 10+ years of experience in antenna, RF, electromagnetics, or microwave engineering
- Significant hands-on experience with full-wave electromagnetic simulation and modeling
- Advanced proficiency with one or more full-wave EM tools: Ansys HFSS, CST Studio Suite, Altair Feko, COMSOL, or similar industry-standard tools
- Demonstrated experience designing and analyzing antennas, antenna arrays, feeds, RF structures, or spacecraft RF interfaces
- Strong understanding of antenna theory, electromagnetic fields, wave propagation, impedance matching, polarization, coupling, and radiation patterns
- Experience validating simulation results through laboratory, near-field, far-field, or anechoic chamber measurements
- Experience with phased arrays, beamforming, electronically steerable antennas, or multi-element RF apertures
- Working knowledge of RF front-end components and architectures
- Ability to perform RF trade studies and communicate technical results clearly
- Experience leading complex engineering efforts from concept through design, test, and delivery
- Strong written, verbal, and cross-functional communication skills
- Active TS//SCI clearance or eligibility to obtain one
- U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible to obtain required ITAR authorizations
PREFERRED: Experience developing antennas or RF hardware for spacecraft or space-qualified systems; deployable, conformal, body-mounted, or phased-array antennas; spacecraft-level electromagnetic compatibility modeling; RF measurements using vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, antenna ranges, or anechoic chambers; thermal, structural, vibration, thermal vacuum, and radiation considerations for space hardware; MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for RF analysis and simulation automation; experience in fast-paced startup or dynamic environment.
