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Senior RF Engineer

Cowboy Space Corporation· Avionics
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San Carlos, California$219k - $276kFull-timePosted 3mo ago

About the role

Senior RF Engineer responsible for designing, developing, and validating RF hardware for spacecraft communication, telemetry, command and control, and high-bandwidth data transport within Cowboy Space Corp’s avionics team.

Responsibilities

  • Design RF driver and receiver circuitry for optical communication links supporting data rates upto 50 Gbps
  • Develop end-to-end RF signal chain architecture for laser diode drivers, modulators, and photodetector front-ends
  • Design and lay out high-speed RF/analog PCBs, including specialized stack-ups tailored for RF signal integrity and impedance control
  • Perform signal integrity analysis, including impedance matching, crosstalk mitigation, and eye-diagram/jitter optimization for high-speed links
  • Collaborate with optics and photonics engineers to co-design electrical-to-optical and optical-to-electrical interfaces
  • Support the design, integration, and testing of free-space optical communication terminals, including transmitter and receiver electronics
  • Conduct RF circuit simulation (S-parameter analysis, transmission line modeling) and validate designs through lab measurement and characterization
  • Debug and troubleshoot high-speed RF/optical link performance issues in lab and field test environments
  • Work closely with mechanical, thermal, and systems engineering teams to integrate RF/optical subsystems into complete communication terminals
  • Document design decisions, test results, and contribute to design reviews and technical roadmaps
  • Stay current with advances in optical communication technology, RF driver ICs, and opto-electronic component development

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Photonics, or related field
  • 5+ years of professional experience designing RF circuitry for high-speed communication systems
  • Hands-on experience designing RF circuits to drive optical communication links (laser drivers, TIAs, modulator drivers)
  • Direct experience with free-space/open-space laser communication systems
  • Proven experience working with high-speed RF communication links in the 1 Gbps to 50 Gbps range
  • Strong PCB design and layout experience for RF circuitry, including familiarity with specialized RF PCB stack-ups (e.g., mixed dielectric, controlled impedance, RF-grade laminates)
  • Solid understanding of RF transmission line theory, impedance matching, and high-speed signal integrity principles
  • Proficiency with RF simulation and design tools (ADS, HFSS, or equivalent) and PCB design tools (Altium, Cadence Allegro)
  • Experience with lab test and measurement equipment for high-speed RF characterization (network analyzers, BERTs, oscilloscopes, eye-diagram analysis)
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to debug complex RF/optical system issues
  • Effective communicator able to collaborate cross-functionally with optics, mechanical, and systems teams

Skills

Required:RF circuit designRF simulation and analysisPCB layout for RFOptical/RF interfacing

Benefits

  • Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan
  • Paid time off
  • 10 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Paid parental leave
  • Relocation assistance if applicable
  • Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks
Last updated Oct 25, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Cowboy Space Corporation

Powering Humanity From the High Frontier

Cowboy Space Corp. is building a power grid in outer space for artificial intelligence. It is an integrated system of satellites and rockets to haul high-performance compute and optical data transmission down from Low Earth Orbit. Earth's energy grid can't run at the pace of AI. We can.

Orbital Data CentersAI compute in spacesolar-powered data centersLow Earth Orbitpower grid in space
Company profileWebsite

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