Skip to content

RF & Payloads

Communications / DSP Engineer

Xona Space Systems logoXona Space Systems$160,000–$210,000/yrBurlingame, CaliforniaFullTimePosted 6mo ago
  • US citizenship
  • ITAR / US person

How this pay compares

This posting states $160k–$210k a year. Open RF engineer jobs in California post a median of $182k a year, the middle half $152k–$202k, across 135 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.

RF and communications engineers in California: pay by town and employer

About the job

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth. With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

Own end-to-end signal-chain system engineering for GEO backhaul and inter-satellite cross-links. This includes algorithm development, simulation, measurement engineering, and driving the architectural transition into FPGA-ready solutions.

You will serve as the technical lead for third-party vendor IPs, ensuring seamless integration and compliance with Xona requirements. ## What You'll Do - Algorithm & Hardware Evolution: Develop acquisition, tracking, data decoding, and measurement algorithms; collaborate across the team to drive the architectural transition from mathematical models to fixed-point, optimized FPGA designs and verifications. - High-Fidelity Simulation: Build Python/C++ simulations and analyze performance under low-SNR, high dynamics, interference, and multipath. - Integrated Architecture: Define HW/SW partitioning and system interfaces; optimize for FPGA resource utilization and timing constraints while ensuring requirements traceability. - Measurement Product Definition: Specify measurement products (code phase, carrier, Doppler, C/N₀, PRs, DRs) and validate with Navigation team. - Vendor & Lifecycle Management: Lead vendor SOWs, acceptance tests, integration, and compliance reviews.

Document system architecture, simulations, trade studies, and verification results. ## Required Qualifications - MS or PhD in EE, CE, or related field; 7+ years’ experience in digital communications, DSP, or satellite systems. - Strong mastery of synchronization, ranging, and spread-spectrum algorithm design. - Hands-on experience with FPGA-based signal processing and bit-true/fixed-point modeling. - Proficiency in Python, C/C++ for system modeling. - Prior experience in vendor technical leadership and cross-functional system integration. ## Preferred Qualifications - GEO satellite backhaul or inter-satellite cross-link (ISL) experience. - Familiarity with GNSS navigation and spread-spectrum systems - Knowledge of measurement integrity; experience with lab bring-up, test automation, and HIL/OTA testing. - Experience in ARM-based MPSoC systems (Cortex-A/R), with experience developing Embedded Linux (PetaLinux/Yocto) and device drivers specifically for Zynq UltraScale+ environments. ## Key Competencies - Systems thinking with requirements and verification rigor. - Technical leadership across internal teams and external vendors. - Clear technical communication and documentation. - Pragmatic, verification-driven approach for flight-ready solutions.

For U.S. Roles: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). For U.K.

Roles:To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC). For Canada Roles:Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

From Xona Space Systems'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 in California, 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 Xona Space Systems

Navigation infrastructure: centimeter-level positioning from low Earth orbit.

Pay on its listings: 84.3% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

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

More open jobs at Xona Space Systems

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

Xona Space Systems openings, sent to you weekly

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