RF Engineering Lead - Satellite Constellation - KSAT, INC.

Introduction

With headquarters in Tromsø, Norway, Kongsberg Satellite Services AS (KSAT) supplies ground station services for satellite communications. KSAT is the world’s largest supplier of services for telemetry, tracking, and commanding (TT&C) and data acquisition from non-geostationary satellites.

Founded in 1968, KSAT has grown to more than 400 employees.  About 60% of KSAT’s annual revenue comes from the US. The KSAT Inc. (aka. KSAT USA) offices are located in the Denver Colorado area. KSAT USA holds a strong position within the industry, serving government and commercial space programs.

Summary of Position

KSAT Inc is seeking an experienced, mid to senior level engineer to serve as a Radio Frequency Lead Engineer for a new satellite constellation program.  This RF Engineering Lead will design, develop, and integrate RF systems for space communications. This role will act as a subject matter expert resource for key customers and internal engineering teams in the USA and stakeholders in Norway while working closely with KSAT’s broader global engineering and program teams. Critical functions include integrating, testing, and operationalizing complete radio frequency based ground and space systems. Knowledge of satellite communications waveforms, data framing standards, link budgets, digital signal processing, and space systems.

The role will be local to the Greater Denver region with flexible teleworking opportunities. Relocation assistance to the Greater Denver region is available for the right candidate.

Joining the KSAT Team means:

• Opportunity to work across the industry with many different players in industry and government; (big market share in non-geostationary space means KSAT knows most of the industry)
• Opportunity to actively grow and directly contribute to the success of the space industry
• Flexible work environment
• Experience in an international company with a global footprint and opportunities to work across cultures
• Engaging teammates: small team of dedicated, “A-class” teammates. Being part of a nimble and passionate team (like a start-up), with the financial security and product technology readiness level of an established company – the best of both worlds

Details of the Role

Essential Job Duties, Responsibilities, Requirements:

KSAT will consider all candidates meeting the below qualifications.

 Primary tasks and responsibility

• Customer Engagement: Work closely with KSAT customers to understand and address their expectations for the Hyper service.
• Requirements Formalization: Define and communicate requirements to technical partners and internally, collaborating iteratively to achieve mission-aligned designs.
• System Design Collaboration: Engage in cross-functional teams, making critical trade-offs that impact the Hyper service design, particularly regarding RF performance, pointing accuracy, Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP), antenna design, and operations.
• Performance Optimization: Balance performance across customer interfaces and manage data crosslinking needs, ensuring efficient data transfer.
• Technology Exploration: Evaluate and integrate alternative technologies, such as optical terminals, to enhance data crosslinking and mission efficacy.

 Requirements

• Current US Citizenship
• Eligible to maintain a US DoD Security Clearance

Qualifications and Skills

Minimum

• 10-years of demonstrated engineering experience developing, deploying, and/or testing complex systems
• 6-years of demonstrated SATCOM experience developing, deploying, and/or testing space to ground RF systems to include narrowband TT&C and wideband mission data
• In-depth knowledge of RF principles, especially as they apply to satellite systems.
• Experience with modulation, coding, and frequency planning.
• Strong communication skills for engaging with customers and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work iteratively in a technical, mission-driven environment

 Preferred

• Previous experience with RF systems using space data standards such as CCSDS and DVB-S2
• Hands-on experience testing of full satellite communications chain to include: RF digitizers, down/upconverters, modems, FEPs and gateways.
• Experience with Digital-IF and the deploying of virtualized or software-defined communications systems.
• Hands-on experience configuring Linux systems utilizing command line interfaces and shell scripting
• Familiarity with RESTful API development and integration with external customer or supplier systems
• Familiarity with public and private cloud architectures for digital signal processing including Solutions Architect certifications from AWS or Microsoft Azure

Travel

• Travel is estimated at 30%
• Travel will be necessary to customer sites (primarily within the USA)
• Travel will be necessary to Tromsø, Norway a several times per year
• Travel to other global locations may be required on a case-by-case basis

Education and certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline: BSEE / ME preferred.
• Preferred: Master’s degree in engineering or other technical field

Compensation

The target compensation range of this position is $125K-165K

Benefits Package Highlights:

• Four weeks of PTO annually
• $0 individual medical insurance with generous coverages
• Flexible working environment
• Fitness expense reimbursement program
• Tuition reimbursement program
• International travel opportunities