RF Test Engineer II

About Inversion Precision delivery from space. To anywhere on Earth. In under one hour. Join us: https://boards.greenhouse.io/inversionspace

Inversion

Making Earth radically more accessible by turning space into a global logistics network

I

inversionspace.com

51-200 employees

Defense and Space Manufacturing

Playa Vista, California

2021

Privately Held

17k LinkedIn followers

Raised $54.1M

• As an RF Test Engineer, you will be responsible for the verification,
• validation, integration, and performance characterization of flight and ground
• RF/Telemetry systems for Inversion’s next-generation re-entry vehicles. You will
• sit within the Avionics team and own the development and execution of RF test
• plans - taking systems from benchtop validation through integrated hardware
• testing and mission-readiness verification.
• You will be a key member of the Avionics team, reporting directly to the
• Director of Engineering, Avionics. Our engineers are responsible for the
• complete lifecycle of the hardware they support, including development, test,
• integration, and troubleshooting. You will help develop critical hardware and
• systems for cutting-edge maneuverable reentry vehicles - advancing one of the
• most capable reentry vehicle platforms ever developed.
• Develop and execute RF test plans, procedures, and verification methods for
• components, subsystems, and integrated vehicle systems.
• Set up, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory test configurations for
• receiver, transmitter, and antenna validation.
• Measure and characterize RF performance including gain, insertion loss,
• return loss, noise figure, linearity, bandwidth, spurious response, dynamic
• range, and interference susceptibility.
• Perform component-, subsystem-, and system-level RF test and measurement
• activities using standard laboratory equipment such as spectrum analyzers,
• network analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, and power meters.
• Support integration, debug, and troubleshooting of RF hardware in
• development, qualification, and test environments.
• Collect, analyze, and document test data in formal reports, summaries, and
• engineering briefings.
• Assist in verification of requirements and support qualification, acceptance,
• and environmental test campaigns.
• Coordinate closely with RF, antenna, DSP, FPGA, software, and electrical
• engineering teams during integration and test activities.
• Improve test efficiency, repeatability, and data quality through automation
• using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools.
• Support over-the-air and antenna test activities, including range setup and
• validation, as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical
• field with RF emphasis.
• Typically 2+ years of professional experience (or intensive academic/project
• experience) in RF test, measurement, validation, or integration.
• Hands-on RF test and measurement experience for component, subsystem, and
• system-level validation.
• Proficiency with common laboratory equipment such as spectrum analyzers,
• vector network analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, power meters,
• multimeters, and power supplies.
• Experience with RF test setup development, calibration, troubleshooting, and
• data collection.
• Familiarity with receiver/transmitter performance metrics including gain,
• noise figure, linearity, spurious response, bandwidth, and dynamic range.
• Ability to develop test plans, test procedures, and formal test reports.
• Experience with test automation using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar
• tools.
• Understanding of integration issues across RF, digital, and embedded hardware
• systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present
• technical results clearly to multidisciplinary teams.
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top
• Secret security clearance.
• Experience with antenna and over-the-air test methods.
• Familiarity with S-band and L-band communication or telemetry systems.
• Familiarity with aerospace and defense test and qualification standards, such
• as MIL-STD-810/461, DO-160, and SMC-S-016 requirements, as applied to RF and
• avionics hardware.
• Familiarity with S-parameters and their use in evaluating RF component and
• system performance.
• Experience supporting environmental qualification testing, including EMI/EMC,
• vibration, thermal, shock, and thermal vacuum (TVAC).
• Knowledge of telemetry and range safety standards such as IRIG-106 and common
• digital modulation schemes.
• Experience with automated data acquisition, test scripting, and
• post-processing pipelines.
• Familiarity with fault isolation and root-cause analysis for RF hardware
• failures in integrated systems.
• Experience working with RF systems in aerospace, spacecraft, launch vehicle,
• or other mission-critical applications.
• Ability to support fast-paced prototype development and integration efforts
• in small, highly collaborative teams.
• Prior experience in startups or small independent engineering teams.
• Additionally: Level I Consideration – We are also open to considering qualified
• candidates for the RF Test Engineer I level. Candidates should possess all of
• the qualifications listed above, with 1+ years of professional experience in RF
• test engineering, preferably in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability
• environments. The compensation range for the RF Test Engineer I position is
• $77,000–$116,000.
• Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in
• office presence.
• The California annual base salary for this role is currently $106,000 -
• $150,000.  Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment
• with market data.  Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and
• may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of
• several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant
• education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and
• internal equity.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the
• U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the
• Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and
• Notice [https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa] for further details.