RF Test Engineer, Xona Space Systems

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in RF testing, preferably in aerospace, defense, or telecommunications
• Deep familiarity with RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, VNAs, signal generators, etc.)
• Strong foundation in RF fundamentals, including link budgets, S-parameters, gain/loss calculations, and impedance matching
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python for test automation and data analysis
• Comfort working in lab environments and around flight hardware
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across disciplines

Desirable

• We’re not here to incrementally improve GNSS
• We’re here to redefine it from the ground up
• We’re looking for a highly motivated and hands-on RF Test Engineer to join our growing team and take ownership of testing the RF systems that power our next generation service
• In this role, you’ll be instrumental in designing and executing test campaigns for everything from our mission-critical payload to the RF subsystems that tie together the satellite bus
• This is an in-person role that demands technical depth, creativity, and a strong desire to build and break hardware in service of a mission
• If you thrive in a fast-paced, startup environment, enjoy getting your hands on flight hardware, and take pride in designing test setups that are both clever and rock solid, we’d love to meet you
• Design, implement, and execute test plans for a wide range of RF systems, including payload transmit/receive chains, telemetry/command links, GNSS receivers, and interconnects across the satellite bus
• Build and maintain RF test setups using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters, and custom fixtures
• Develop automated test scripts and data capture tools to accelerate and standardize test workflows
• Perform detailed analysis of RF test data to validate system performance and characterize margins
• Troubleshoot RF anomalies at the board, subsystem, and system level
• Support environmental testing (e.g., thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC) with RF test instrumentation and monitoring
• Work closely with subsystem teams to ensure test coverage aligns with mission requirements
• Contribute to the definition of test requirements and verification matrices across the full satellite development lifecycle