RF Systems Engineer

Wanna join the adventure?

Loft Orbital is making space simple. We build and operate reliable, shareable satellites that give customers a faster, simpler path to orbit. By combining flight-proven spacecraft platforms with our own hardware and software, we make it easier to deploy missions in space.

About Loft Orbital Solutions

Loft: Space Made Simple.

Founded in 2017, Loft provides governments, companies, and research institutions with a fast, reliable, and simple way to deploy missions in orbit.

We integrate, launch, and operate spacecraft, offering end-to-end missions as a service across Earth observation, IoT connectivity, on-orbit AI, national security missions, and more. Leveraging our existing space infrastructure and an extensive inventory of satellite buses, Loft is reducing years-long integration and launch timelines to months. With more than 30 missions flown, Loft’s flight heritage and proven technologies enable customers to focus on their mission objectives.

With a growing fleet on track to reach 30 satellites by 2027, we are scaling up quickly across our offices in San Francisco, CA | Golden, CO | and Toulouse, France to meet accelerating demand for space infrastructure.

As an international company your resume will be reviewed by people across our offices so please attach a copy in English.

Responsibilities

• Systems Engineer, you'll contribute to the design, development, and integration of communication systems across our satellite connectivity and next-generation RF payload programs. You'll work on RF system architecture, signal processing algorithms, and performance analysis, collaborating closely with FPGA, embedded software, systems, and hardware engineers to develop and integrate complex RF technologies.
• This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys working at the intersection of RF hardware and signal processing, solving challenging technical problems, and seeing their work go from initial design to in-orbit operation.
• Contribute to the design and development of RF systems for satellite connectivity and payload applications, including architecture, requirements, and technical trade-offs.
• link budget analysis and evaluate subsystem performance across S-band, X-band, and inter-satellite link (ISL) applications.
• Develop and optimize signal processing algorithms for RF payloads using MATLAB and related simulation tools.
• payload development across the signal chain, from antennas and RF frontends to ADCs and SDR systems, including signal detection and geolocation.
• FPGA, embedded software, and systems teams to translate RF requirements into implementable solutions and integrate signal processing algorithms.
• Define and track system requirements, documenting technical decisions, integration activities, and verification results.
• testing, hardware integration, troubleshooting, and performance verification through AIT and in-orbit commissioning.
• Work across engineering and AIT teams to drive successful development and integration of RF systems and payloads.
• system integration, debugging, testing, and performance analysis.
• Experience with signal processing algorithms, including the ability to model, analyze, or evaluate RF signal processing approaches.
• Knowledge of
• communication systems and subsystems, particularly S-band and X-band communications.
• link budget calculations and
• system-level performance analysis.

Hands-on experience with

• hardware, test equipment, and subsystem validation.
• components and technologies, including channelizers, analog-to-digital converters ( ADC), and digital-to-analog converters ( DAC

Experience using

• Experience with antenna systems, RF frontends, and RF payload architecture.
• geolocation, signal detection, spectrum analysis, or SIGINT-related applications.
• testing, integration, and performance verification in an aerospace or satellite environment.

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience in Radio Frequency ( RF) systems engineering, subsystem integration, or a closely related field.

Proven experience with

• Demonstrated ability to independently drive technical activities and collaborate across system and software integration efforts.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.
• FPGA-based signal processing, including experience working with FPGA teams to implement digital signal processing algorithms or IP blocks.
• for signal processing, modeling, simulation, or algorithm development.
• Experience translating system-level
• and signal processing requirements into FPGA or embedded software implementation requirements.

Preferred

• Experience with Software-Defined Radio ( SDR) architectures and development.

Benefits

• Equity, we want you to have an active role in our success
• Up to 35 days of Paid Time Off (vacations & RTT ) and flexible working hours, we want you to be at your best
• Health and life insurance, we care about your health
• Lunch Vouchers, because let’s be honest, we love food! (we even have a slack channel about it #loft-gourmand
• Cross-office travel opportunities between San Francisco, Colorado, and Toulouse to learn from our differences
• Company and team off-sites and many other events to work & celebrate together
• Relocation assistance

to Toulouse when applicable

*Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other underrepresented people tend to only apply when they meet 100% of the qualifications. At Loft, we value respectful debate and people who aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions. We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t check all the boxes.