Senior RF Systems Engineer

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station 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. 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 in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite , a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo. Headquartered in Long Beach, California , and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy. Vast is looking for a RF Systems Engineer , reporting to the Director, RF Engineering , to execute the development of the RF Systems for spacecraft including space stations and satellites. As a Senior RF Systems Engineer, you will manage communication system requirements and verification for space stations and satellites. Your responsibilities will include RF system design, link budgets, satellite coverage analysis, and definition of system concepts-of-operation (CONOPs). You will be expected to own one or more RF components and to collaborate with your mechanical, thermal, test, integration, and mission assurance engineering counterparts to guide those components through testing, integration, and operation during the mission. This will be a full-time , exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

Own and manage spacecraft RF system requirements and verification plan Specify link parameters including modulation, error correction coding, symbol rate, and channel filter Calculate link budgets, considering data throughput requirements, link conditions, and ground station characteristics Estimate the expected data throughput and bit error rate based on your link budgets Maintain link budgets with consideration to on-vehicle antenna patterns, cable losses, radio specifications, and channel conditions for the expected orbit Support regulatory license applications by providing required analyses such as power flux density and antenna contours Use standard tools such as Ansys STK to estimate coverage and link variability during real mission orbit scenarios Document and review your work output with peers through trade studies and design reviews Own one or more RF products from development testing through mission operation Be a center of subject matter expertise over your RF components in the context of the overall RF system Plan the design, manufacturing, testing, integration, and delivery to the vehicle and coordinate the schedule with interfacing teams and Manage relationships with cross-functional teams including mechanical engineers, test engineers, manufacturing engineers, thermal engineers, and avionics engineers Manage vendors and clearly communicate requirements, deliverables, and schedule Define test plans and procedures for acceptance and qualification testing Define and document checkout tests to validate proper operation during and after integration at the vehicle level Support mission operations as a subject matter expert on the spacecraft RF system