Senior RF Systems Engineer

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us. Vast is looking for a Senior RF Systems 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. This will be a full-time , exempt position located in our Long Beach location. Responsibilities: Support system level design and modeling of spacecraft communications systems including space to Earth, space to space, and crew audio & multimedia links. Generate requirements, concepts of operations, block diagrams, and high level analysis for artificial gravity space stations. Work closely with integration and operations teams to define checkout procedures, LEOP, orbital phase, docking, crewed operations, etc. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary engineering team to form tightly integrated avionics, structures, thermal control, and software systems. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering or related engineering discipline. 4+ years of experience in an RF engineering role. Experience with RF test equipment such as Spectrum Analyzers, VNAs, Power Meters, Cable Analyzers, etc. Experience in software development: Matlab, Python, C/C++, or other programming languages. Familiarity with RF communication system design & analysis. Preferred Skills & Experience: MS or PhD in ECE, EE, Physics, or related stem discipline Experience with RF analysis software: HFSS, STK, ADS Knowledge of in space effects including ionizing radiation, atomic oxygen, plasma charging, MMOD, outgassing, etc Prior work in spacecraft system design and/or operation Understanding of RF modulation and media access control schemes such as BPSK, SOQPSK, GMSK, APSK, TDMA, FDMA, etc Understanding of communication system coding and error correction schemes such as Reed Solomon, LDPC, BCH, etc Familiar with common space communications interoperability standards such as CCSDS and DVB-S2 Experience with Ethernet and IP networking, VPNs, TCP, UDP, L2/L3 switches, VLANs, etc Experience with serial communication protocols such as CAN, SPI, and I2C, RS-422/485 Pay Range: Senior RF System Engineer: $147,600-$209,520 Staff RF System Engineer: $175,480-$249,096 Pay Range: California $147,600 — $249,096 USD 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 thr…