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Salary: USD 129,582 - 230,400 / annual
Northwood Space is a modern space infrastructure company building a global network of phased array ground stations to enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions including national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. The company designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems with a vertically integrated approach.
As RF Systems Architect, you will define the products that power Northwood's next-generation ground station network. This is a highly cross-functional, high-leverage role sitting at the intersection of customer requirements, system design, and product execution. You will translate network-level inputs (capacity, coverage, latency, deployment timing) into concrete product architectures and RF/system-level parameters.
Key responsibilities include: translating network-level requirements into product architectures; defining RF and system parameters including antenna configurations, link performance targets, throughput, and availability; developing and iterating solution architectures using simulation outputs and link budgets; partnering with Business Development on customer engagements and proposals; and driving alignment with Engineering Leadership on system tradeoffs, product direction, and roadmap.
You will work closely with Sites, Business Development, and Engineering leadership to aggregate demand across customers and shape product direction. The role requires operating across disciplines (hardware, software, network, operations) and driving alignment across teams in a fast-paced environment.
Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, physics, or mathematics; 5-10+ years in systems engineering, solutions architecture, or technical product roles with demonstrated ownership of complex systems; working knowledge of RF systems, ground stations, or satellite communications; ability to communicate complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences; proven ability to operate across disciplines and drive cross-functional alignment.
Preferred: experience defining and deploying complex communications, networking, aerospace, or infrastructure systems at scale; strong understanding of RF systems, satellite communications, and network architecture tradeoffs; ability to translate customer requirements into scalable technical definitions; experience partnering with customers and business teams on proposals and roadmap decisions; strong systems thinking and technical judgment.
