Senior RF Hardware Engineer

Department: Engineering

Location: Torrance, CA

Compensation: $140K – $226K • Offers Equity

Employment Type: FullTime

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role:

As a Senior RF Hardware Engineer you will be responsible for RF electronics design and performance. You will influence the overall ground network and portal design based on RF performance trades, and you will collaborate with many disciplines including electrical, RF, mechanical, manufacturing, and software engineers to create the best product from concept to production.

Responsibilities:

• Design RF electronics hardware for next generation products, and iterate on existing hardware to improve reliability, performance, and manufacturability

• Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware (amplifiers, filters, PCB layout) to design and evaluate performance

• Build RF circuits (LNA’s, filters, power amplifiers) as well as support circuitry (power, digital control), and characterize their performance

• Collaboration with hardware and software engineers to characterize and troubleshoot integrated RF system performance

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related engineering discipline

• 5+ years of RF design experience, across circuits, filters, or antennas

Preferred Qualifications:

• RF line-up design, considering non-linearity, noise, output power, and blocker/jammer tolerance

• Power amplifier, LNA, and filter design

• Experience with design and bring-up of point of load converters and common digital interfaces such as I2C/SPI

• Theory and testing related to EVM, Noise Figure, power handling metrics (IIP2, IMD), impedance matching, amplifier stability, and cascaded network analysis

• Use of Python (or other language) for data analysis and test automation

Additional Requirements:

• This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiatethe application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, Northwood Space reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

Compensation:

RF Hardware/Level 3: $140,000-$175,000

RF Hardware/Level 4: $152,000-$190,000

RF Hardware/Level 5: $180,000-$226,000

Compensation at Northwood Space is based on role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary depending on job-related skills, education, experience, and technical expertise. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Northwood. In addition to base salary, Northwood Space offers long-term incentives such as company stock options and discretionary performance bonuses. Benefits include equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, flexible spending accounts, flexible time off, 10 or more paid holidays per year, retirement savings plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.