Senior RF & DSP Engineer

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in August 2025. 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 & DSP Engineer, reporting to the Director, RF Engineering, to execute the development of the RF Systems for artificial gravity space stations. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

As a Senior RF & DSP Engineer at Vast, you will work in the area where hardware and DSP meet, developing software defined and FPGA based modems and test systems. Vast employs DSP for space station communication systems, ground stations, as well as component and system level test solutions. You will work directly on the communication systems used to fly humans in space.

Responsibilities:

System and modem level design for crewed spacecraft communication, ground systems, and test.

Work collaboratively with RF hardware engineers, flight software, ground software, and other teams to create and verify performance of communication systems

Create communication system specifications and requirements

Model communication systems and estimate performance in orbital scenarios including artificial gravity generation

Generate excellent documentation and effectively communicating technical information to team members and vendors with diverse backgrounds

Contribute to a culture of extreme ownership by looking beyond the immediate performance of your RF subsystems and understanding its broad impact on other systems, teams, and all aspects of Vast

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in ECE, EE, Physics, or related STEM 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

Mission oriented mindset with a strong desire for team success

Comfortable communicating deeply technical topics to a wide variety of audiences

Experience with software development in: Matlab, Python, C/C++, etc.

Proficient with software defined radio development in GNU Radio

Experience with embedded programming for MCUs and/or FPGAs

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 RF test equipment such as Spectrum Analyzers, Vector Network Analyzers, Signal Generators, Communications Test Systems, Power Meters, etc

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

Strong sense of accountability and integrity with excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability to thrive at an early-stage startup where you will have the opportunity to help define the way engineering is carried out while doing your own development work

Pay Range:

Senior RF and DSP Engineer LIII: $140,000-$170,000

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: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 15 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, free catered meals and snacks and beverages, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast 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.