Digital Comms Systems Lead

Xona is building the next generation of satellite navigation — a high-performance, resilient alternative to GPS powered by a commercial constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. We are on a mission to unlock a new era of autonomy, advanced mobility, and infrastructure resilience by delivering precise, secure, and robust positioning services to the world.

We’re not here to incrementally improve GNSS. We’re here to redefine it from the ground up.

We’re looking for a Digital Comms Systems Lead who’s ready to roll up their sleeves and drive the design, build, and deployment of Xona’s cutting-edge navigation signal and communications systems. In this role, you’ll take ownership of architecture, signal processing design, and FPGA-based system development — all the way from whiteboard concepts to working hardware. You’ll collaborate across disciplines, push technical boundaries, and help set the foundation for next-gen communications tech.

What You’ll Do:

· Own the architecture and implementation of Xona’s PULSAR signal generation and digital communications for Xona’s payload.

· Design and implement signal generation and processing for modulation, coding, synchronization, and more.

· Build and optimize FPGA-based signal generation and processing solutions (think VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog).

· Lead system modeling, simulation, and performance trade studies.

· Build and evolve a digital twin of our signal chain to test and tune FPGA designs and evaluate signal performance before hardware hits the lab.

· Work closely with hardware, firmware, and software teams to integrate full-stack solutions.

· Test, validate, and iterate in the lab and field to make sure our systems perform under real-world conditions.

· Mentor junior engineers and help shape technical best practices as we scale.

· Keep technical documentation sharp and system configurations rock-solid.

You Might Be a Fit If:

· Deep technical expertise in digital communications, DSP, and FPGA development.

· Hands-on, solutions-first mindset — you're comfortable debugging at the system level.

· Ability to move fast, make decisions, and pivot when needed without getting stuck.

· Great communicator who can break down complex ideas for teammates and stakeholders.

· Passion for building real-world systems that go beyond theory.

Requirements

· Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, or a related field.

· 6+ years working directly on digital communications systems and FPGA-based signal generation and processing.

· Strong skills with FPGA tools (Vivado, Quartus) and HDL languages (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog).

· Solid experience with digital modulation techniques (BPSK, QPSK, QAM, OFDM) and forward error correction (LDPC, TPC).

· Comfortable with system-level modeling/simulation tools like GNURadio.

· Familiarity with SDR architectures and RF hardware integration.

· Able to work in the lab — oscilloscopes, signal analyzers, and logic analyzers aren’t new to you.

· Full-time, onsite in Burlingame, California (this role is not remote or hybrid)

· To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Desired Qualifications

· Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or a related field.

· Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering development teams.

· Proficiency in C++, Python, or embedded software development for real-time systems.

· Experience with high-level synthesis (HLS) tools for FPGA acceleration.

· Knowledge of communication system security, anti-jamming, and resilient waveform development.

· Hands on experience with GNSS signal generation, simulation, or processing, especially in FGPA based systems.

Salary Description

Range for base salary: $170,000 - $220,000