Skip to content

RF & Payloads

Principal Space RF Engineer, Antenna & Full-Wave EM Modeling

True Anomaly logoTrue Anomaly$190,000–$275,000/yrDenver, CO or Long Beach, CAPosted 1mo ago
  • US citizenship
  • ITAR / US person

About the job

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it. OUR MISSION True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors - enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES - Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity. - What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results. - It’s the people.

Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together. ## BENEFITS & PERKS * - Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, with HSA/HRA options - Generous time off: Flexible Time Off (FTO) for exempt employees, accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays; Parental Leave; Sick Leave - Fuel for your day: Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees - And more: 401(k) retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, and Dog Fridays - Equity participation: Equity is included as part of our total compensation package, giving you an opportunity to share in the company’s success. *Do not apply to fixed term and temporary roles YOUR MISSION True Anomaly is seeking a Principal Space RF Engineer with deep expertise in antenna design and full-wave electromagnetic modeling .

In this role, you will lead the development of antenna and RF front-end solutions for space-based systems. You will own technical efforts from early concept development and electromagnetic analysis through hardware design, testing, integration, and delivery.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience using full-wave electromagnetic simulation tools to design, analyze, and optimize antennas, arrays, feeds, RF structures, and spacecraft-level electromagnetic interfaces.

You will work closely with systems, mechanical, thermal, avionics, manufacturing, and test engineers to deliver high-performance, space-ready RF hardware. ## RESPONSIBILITIES - Lead the design and development of space-based antennas and RF front-end hardware. - Perform full-wave electromagnetic modeling and simulation of antennas, arrays, feeds, RF structures, and spacecraft interfaces. - Use tools such as HFSS, CST, FEKO, or equivalent to predict and optimize RF performance. - Analyze antenna gain, radiation patterns, beamwidth, sidelobe levels, polarization, impedance matching, efficiency, isolation, and coupling. - Develop and evaluate fixed-beam, phased-array, electronically steerable, deployable, and conformal antenna architectures. - Conduct electromagnetic trade studies considering performance, size, weight, power, thermal environment, packaging, manufacturability, and cost. - Develop RF front-end architectures, including filters, switches, amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, feeds, couplers, and RF distribution networks. - Create and maintain antenna models, RF budgets, simulation reports, requirements, and verification plans. - Correlate simulation results with laboratory and antenna-range measurements. - Support antenna and RF hardware integration, troubleshooting, testing, and qualification. - Work with mechanical and spacecraft engineers to resolve packaging, structural, thermal, and electromagnetic compatibility challenges. - Lead technical reviews and serve as a subject-matter expert for antenna and electromagnetic design. - Mentor other engineers and establish effective modeling, design, and test processes. - Support customer engagements, proposals, and new business opportunities as needed. ## QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electromagnetics, Physics, or a related field.

A Master’s degree or Ph.D. is preferred. - 10+ years of experience in antenna, RF, electromagnetics, or microwave engineering. - Significant hands-on experience with full-wave electromagnetic simulation and modeling . - Advanced proficiency with one or more full-wave EM tools, such as: Ansys HFSS - CST Studio Suite - Altair Feko - COMSOL - Similar industry-standard tools - Demonstrated experience designing and analyzing antennas, antenna arrays, feeds, RF structures, or spacecraft RF interfaces. - Strong understanding of antenna theory, electromagnetic fields, wave propagation, impedance matching, polarization, coupling, and radiation patterns. - Experience validating simulation results through laboratory, near-field, far-field, or anechoic chamber measurements. - Experience with phased arrays, beamforming, electronically steerable antennas, or multi-element RF apertures. - Working knowledge of RF front-end components and architectures. - Ability to perform RF trade studies and communicate technical results clearly. - Experience leading complex engineering efforts from concept through design, test, and delivery. - Strong written, verbal, and cross-functional communication skills. ## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE - Experience developing antennas or RF hardware for spacecraft or other space-qualified systems. - Experience with deployable, conformal, body-mounted, or phased-array antennas. - Experience modeling spacecraft-level electromagnetic compatibility, coupling, interference, or antenna-to-structure interactions. - Experience with RF measurements using vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, antenna ranges, or anechoic chambers. - Familiarity with thermal, structural, vibration, thermal vacuum, and radiation considerations for space hardware. - Experience with MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for RF analysis and simulation automation. - Active TS//SCI clearance or eligibility to obtain one. - Experience working in a fast-paced startup or similarly dynamic environment. ## COMPENSATION - Base Salary: $190,000 - $275,000 - Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience. ## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS - Active TS//SCI clearance or eligibility to obtain one. - Work Location - Successful candidates will be located near Centennial or Long Beach.

While we observe a hybrid work environment, some work must be done on site. - Work environment - the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job. - Physical demands - the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving. This position will be open until it is successfully filled.

To submit your application, please follow the directions below. #LI-Onsite 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.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us know. To protect candidates and our company from application fraud and impersonation, we use third-party tools to verify applicant identity and detect fraudulent applications.

Learn more in our Privacy Notice .

From True Anomaly's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

Selected agencies hiring now

These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.

Sponsored

Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.

Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.

New RF, communications and payload jobs in space, by email

One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.

About True Anomaly

Spacecraft and software for space security.

Pay on its listings: 99.5% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

How it pays: Paid as an employee on True Anomaly's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).

More open jobs at True Anomaly

More RF, communications and payload jobs in space

An RF or communications engineer?

One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.

Create my profile

True Anomaly openings, sent to you weekly

Each week we send the newest postings from True Anomaly's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.