Senior RF Electrical Engineer (Amplifiers)
About Northwood: 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 Electrical Engineer (RF), you will own Ka-band high power amplifier design for Prism, Northwood's 2.4-meter parabolic antenna for high-throughput satellite links. You will take amplifiers from architecture through prototype, characterization, and production, working closely with antenna, mechanical, thermal, and test engineers. This is a senior individual contributor role for someone who has designed, built, and debugged high power RF hardware at microwave or millimeter-wave frequencies.
Responsibilities:
Design Ka-band high power amplifiers for Prism, from line-up and architecture through schematic, layout, and hardware bring-up
Develop power combining approaches that scale output power while protecting efficiency, linearity, and reliability
Build electromagnetic and circuit simulation models (amplifier stages, matching networks, combiners, transitions) to design and evaluate performance before hardware
Design supporting circuitry, including bias and sequencing, power conditioning, protection, monitoring, and digital control interfaces
Own thermal and packaging considerations for high-dissipation RF hardware in partnership with mechanical and thermal engineers
Characterize amplifier performance (output power, compression, PAE, linearity, spurious, stability) and troubleshoot integrated transmit chain performance
Drive designs through reliability testing and into production, including test definition and manufacturing support
Support integration and field troubleshooting of deployed Prism units
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related engineering discipline
5+ years of RF hardware design experience
Hands-on experience designing and building power amplifiers at microwave or millimeter-wave frequencies (Ku-band or higher)
Experience taking RF hardware from design through bring-up, characterization, and debug in the lab
Proficiency with RF and EM simulation tools (such as Keysight ADS, Cadence AWR, Ansys HFSS, or CST)
Comfort with RF test equipment, including network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and power meters
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with a focus on RF or microwave design
Ka-band solid state power amplifier (SSPA) or block upconverter (BUC) design for satellite communications
GaN MMIC-based amplifier design, including device selection, matching, stability analysis, and bias networks
Power combiner design, including waveguide, spatial, or planar approaches
Waveguide component and transition design, including waveguide-to-microstrip transitions, rotary joints, and feeds
Thermal management and packaging for high power RF electronics
Linearity and modulated signal performance (IMD, ACPR, EVM, spectral regrowth), including linearization techniques
Satcom transmit compliance, including emission masks and regulatory limits
Design for manufacturing, production test development, and reliability qualification
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
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.
