DSP/Communications Engineer $130,000 – $180,000 Full-time – On-site Burlingame, CA Company Overview: Our client is developing a next-generation navigation satellite network designed to enable precision technologies such as robotic farming and hands-free driving at a global scale. Their patented PULSAR network simplifies the complexity required to achieve robust, centimeter-level accuracy, making precision navigation accessible and affordable for industries that rely on automation and autonomy. Position Summary: As a DSP/Communications Engineer, you will own the RF signals link between Xona’s next-generation LEO constellation satellites and ground receivers. Your role will involve communications link simulations, link budgets, and low-level signal metrics, driving implementation details throughout the hardware/firmware stack to ensure Xona’s high-precision and high-accuracy GNSS service. This is a hands-on role requiring expertise in digital signal processing, RF communications, and signal simulations. The ideal candidate will play a key role in ensuring the integrity and performance of Xona’s satellite communications system. Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Design and implement signal processing and communications systems for satellite navigation.
Conduct RF communications prototyping using tools such as GNU Radio or Simulink.
Simulate RF communications links, including modeling signal distortions and interference.
Develop and maintain RF link budgets to distill hardware and firmware requirements.
Analyze and interpret RF measurements, assessing performance against design criteria.
Implement and optimize spread-spectrum signals and digital modulation schemes such as QPSK.
Utilize Python and C/C++ for signal processing development.
Collaborate with hardware and software teams to refine system architecture and performance.
Support off-site testing events and provide technical expertise as needed.
Minimum Qualifications:
3 – 6 years of experience in signal processing and communications.
Hands-on experience with RF communications prototyping.
Proficiency in simulating RF links, including modeling distortions.
Strong understanding of spread-spectrum signals and digital modulation techniques.
Experience developing and maintaining RF link budgets.
Knowledge of key RF performance metrics and their impact on system design.
Fluency in Python and C/C++ for signal processing applications.
Familiarity with git/gitflow for version control.
Ability to travel as needed to support testing events.
Self-starter with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience with satellite communications.
Hands-on experience with electrical/RF test equipment such as oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers.
Lab experience with RF test setups for communications measurements.
Knowledge and experience with GNSS systems.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of next-generation satellite communications technology and shape the future of precision navigation.
Senior AI&T Engineer $130,000 – $190,000 Full-time – On-site Burlingame, CA Company Overview: Our client is developing a next-generation navigation satellite network designed to enable precision technologies such as robotic farming and hands-free driving at a global scale. Their patented PULSAR network simplifies the complexity required to achieve robust, centimeter-level accuracy, making precision navigation accessible and affordable for industries that rely on automation and autonomy. Position Summary: The Senior Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) Engineer will be responsible for leading and executing all testing required for the deployment of the PULSAR satellite constellation. This role includes full ownership over production capabilities, ensuring the efficient verification and validation (V&V) of Xona payloads. The Senior AI&T Engineer will also provide strategic oversight for integration planning and operations on the production floor, working closely with engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams to maintain high standards of reliability and performance. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring expertise in environmental testing, integration processes, and manufacturing execution. The ideal candidate will drive improvements in testing methodologies, implement best practices for assembly and integration, and oversee critical test campaigns. Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Lead and manage all aspects of payload assembly, integration, and test activities.
Develop and execute test plans, procedures, and analysis for environmental testing, including thermal, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, and acoustic testing.
Establish and refine production capabilities to ensure the efficient delivery of satellite payloads.
Provide strategic oversight for integration planning and operations on the production floor.
Develop and implement processes, test assets, and tooling for new and existing hardware.
Contribute to design reviews, ensuring testability and manufacturability considerations are integrated.
Support critical testing campaigns, including potential travel and availability for 24/7 operations when required.
Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and manufacturing standards.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, or equivalent) and 5+ years of relevant experience.
Strong teamwork, professionalism, and adherence to safety and quality standards.
Excellent problem-solving, troubleshooting, and attention to detail.
Experience with thermal, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, and acoustic testing.
Proficiency in writing test plans, procedures, and analyzing test data.
Ability to develop processes, test assets, and tooling for both new and existing hardware.
Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
Ability to support critical testing campaigns, including travel and 24/7 availability as needed.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
Experience with Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
Familiarity with structured Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001, AS9100).
Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing fundamentals.
Experience with process capability, process variance, and six sigma tools.
Experience integrating automation within a digital factory framework.
Direct management experience overseeing engineers, specialists, and/or technicians.
Experience with spaceflight components and spacecraft environmental testing.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead testing and integration efforts for cutting-edge satellite navigation technology, shaping the future of precision guidance systems.
Payload Software Engineer $120,000 – $170,000 Full-time – On-site Burlingame, CA Company Overview: Our client is developing a modern commercial satellite system designed to provide robust and accurate Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services. Their patented small satellite architecture offers a secure, high-accuracy alternative to traditional GNSS, ensuring resilience and reliability for industries moving towards autonomy. Position Summary: As a Payload Software Engineer, you will play a key role in ensuring the reliability and performance of satellite payload software. This position involves full-system testing, focusing on intricate interface checkouts with both hardware and the satellite bus. You will collaborate with Integration & Test (I&T), hardware engineering, and software engineering teams to develop and implement robust interface components that enhance the reliability of the satellite service. Your responsibilities will include designing communication protocols, testing software-hardware interactions, and contributing to system architecture documentation to ensure clarity in complex operations. This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of space technology, optimizing performance at the edge while ensuring overall system stability. Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Conduct full-system testing, focusing on software/hardware interface verification.
Design and implement robust communication protocols and software interfaces.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate software solutions into satellite payload systems.
Develop and execute test plans to ensure system reliability and performance.
Create technical documentation to support architectural problem-solving and system clarity.
Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to software performance and integration.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 4+ years of experience in software architecture, or 6+ years of experience in software development.
Strong understanding of software testing methodologies and QA best practices.
Experience with full-system testing and software/hardware interface validation.
Proficiency in C++ or similar programming languages.
Experience designing and implementing communication protocols and interfaces.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or other protected status per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) due to government space technology export regulations.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience with embedded systems.
Background in aerospace or related industries.
Familiarity with network protocols.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge satellite navigation technology and help shape the future of global positioning systems.
Senior GNSS Estimation Engineer $140,000 – $190,000 Full-time – On-site Burlingame, CA Company Overview: Our client is developing a modern commercial satellite system designed to provide robust and accurate Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services. Their patented small satellite architecture offers a secure, high-accuracy alternative to traditional GNSS, ensuring resilience and reliability for industries moving towards autonomy. Position Summary: The Senior GNSS Estimation Engineer will play a critical role in the development and implementation of advanced navigation and estimation algorithms for space and ground systems. You will work on high-precision positioning techniques, satellite orbit determination, clock estimation, and atmospheric modeling. As part of a small, fast-moving team, you will contribute to both research and practical application, ensuring that our client's navigation solutions meet the highest standards for security and accuracy. You will collaborate closely with the payload software team to develop and validate test procedures for both test and flight hardware. Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop and implement advanced estimation algorithms for high-precision GNSS correction systems (PPP-AR, PPP, RTK, etc.).
Work on integer ambiguity resolution, precision orbit determination, clock estimation, and integrity for safety-critical applications.
Model and analyze atmospheric effects on signal propagation to improve positioning accuracy.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate navigation solutions into space and ground systems.
Develop testing and validation frameworks to ensure system reliability and performance.
Contribute to the overall architecture and software development of the navigation system.
Support hardware integration, system simulation, and real-world testing.
Minimum Qualifications:
Master’s or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geomatics Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
3+ years of experience in navigation, localization, or estimation algorithm development for aerospace, automotive, or industrial applications.
Strong proficiency in C++ and Python.
Expertise in statistical signal processing and estimation techniques such as Kalman filtering.
Experience with satellite systems, orbital mechanics, and orbit determination.
Familiarity with atmospheric sciences and modeling.
U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or other protected status per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) due to government space technology export regulations.
This is a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge satellite navigation technology and contribute to the future of global positioning systems.
