Senior RF Systems Engineer

Senior RF Systems Engineer

Leaf Space

Lomazzo, Italy

JOB OVERVIEW

Leaf Space is looking for a Senior RF Systems Engineer to take technical ownership of the communications subsystem for TreeNet, always-on connectivity solution based on an in-orbit federated mesh network. This role sits at the intersection of architecture and hands-on engineering: you will define and evolve the RF/communications architecture (link budgets, MAC/PHY design, waveform and modulation choices, link acquisition strategy, etc.), while also getting into the implementation details and acting as the primary technical interface with the external node designer producer on all things RF and comms. You will serve as the technical reference for RF and communications topics across the TreeNet engineering team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the RF/communications architecture and drive its evolution throughout the product lifecycle;
• Lead link budget engineering across the product's operating scenarios for multiple configurations;
• Design and specify MAC/PHY layer behavior, including channel access strategy;
• Drive availability and performance analyses across orbital scenarios translating orbital mechanics constraints into RF design requirements;
• Act as the primary RF/comms technical counterpart to the external node designer/producer: reviewing their designs, resolving interface and performance issues, and ensuring their implementation matches TreeNet's architectural intent;
• Translate architectural decisions into concrete requirements and specifications consumable by hardware/firmware teams and external partners;
• Support verification and validation activities (test campaigns, simulation-to-hardware correlation) for RF/comms performance claims;
• Contribute to and review technical deliverables: architecture documents, analysis reports, and supporting simulation/analysis code;
• Support development and implementation of DSP algorithms for implementation on FPGAs and processors;
• Provide support to regulatory team for licensing matters and coordination;
• Act as the point of contact for relevant subject matter with test partners and early adopters.

QUALIFICATIONS AND STUDIES

• MSc (or equivalent) in Telecommunications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field;
• 7+ years of professional experience in RF systems engineering, communications systems, or satellite communications, with demonstrated experience contributing to architecture-level decisions;
• Proven track record with link budget analysis and design for space or other long-range RF systems;
• Experience working directly with external hardware vendors/developers on RF interface and performance requirements.

REQUIREMENTS

Tech skills

• Strong fluency in RF link budget analysis and tradeoff;
• Solid understanding of digital communication, spread-spectrum/CDMA systems;
• Working knowledge of orbital mechanics as it relates to comms availability;
• Proficiency in Python for simulation, link budget modeling, and data analysis; familiarity with reproducible analysis workflows (scripts, version control);
• Ability to produce and maintain rigorous technical documentation (architecture specs, ICDs, requirements, design document, analysis reports) to an engineering-grade standard;
• Hands-on experience with satellite space-to-ground and inter-satellite link (ISL) communication architectures;
• Experience with RF hardware-in-the-loop testing;
• Demonstrated ability working with a systems mindset, factoring in up and downstream effects of design decisions.

Soft skills

• Strong ownership of RF/communications design decisions and ability to communicate technical trade-offs clearly to stakeholders;
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills to interface effectively with external node developers/producers, internal hardware/firmware teams, and management;
• Ability to translate ambiguous or evolving requirements into concrete, actionable specifications;
• Rigorous, detail-oriented approach, with a preference for measured/verified data over assumptions, and transparency when prior estimates need correction;
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, still-maturing product environment, iterating on both architecture and hands-on implementation;
• Fluent English (written and spoken) required, given interaction with external international partners.