RF Hardware Team Lead
Astranis
Other Engineering
San Francisco, CA, USA
USD 150k-200k / year + Equity
Posted on Jan 23, 2026
Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.
Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.
RF Hardware Team Lead
As an Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for the delivery of various payload hardware initiatives. As a team leader you will oversee cradle to grave hardware development: architecture definition, board design, testing, and qualification.
Ideal Candidate:
- An individual who has built and overseen the entire design cycle of RF hardware (frequency converters, SSPA, LNA, PLL, etc)
- Proven record of delivering RF hardware that spans RF/analog design, systems analysis, digital interfaces, and electro-mechanical systems.
- Experience with design and analysis of payloads for satellite communications, including key component selection and vendor management.
- History of leading small teams and mentoring employees, strong communication skills, and ability to make high impact decisions under uncertainty.
Role:
- Lead and develop a team of electrical engineers to design RF PCBAs and split blocks that meet the business needs of the company
- Oversee and manage design workflows for highly complex PCBAs with high levels of electrical and mechanical integration
- Architect RF designs that achieve the most efficient and flexible communications payloads, integrating them with the rest of the spacecraft
- Ensure competitiveness through continuous technical innovation and industry expertise
Requirements:
- B.S. or higher in electrical or computer engineering, or similar technical degree
- Strong experience in RF hardware design. Examples include frequency converters, SSPA modules, LNA, PLL, filters, etc
- Expert PCB-level experience designing hardware from concept through production (schematic capture, layout, bring-up, characterization, etc)
- Proven leadership through project management, mentorship, and people management experience
- A passion for hardware development, including working in a fast-paced environment and hands-on design
Bonus:
- Strong background in RF performance measurement, design validation, and debugging (gain, noise, linearity, spurs, etc)
- Experience simulating PCBA designs using HFSS, SIwave, Keysight ADS, or similar tools
- Experience with Altium or similar EDA tools for high-density PCB design
- Strong background in digital communications theory and measurement of radio nonidealities (HD, IMD, IQ imbalance, gain ripple, group delay distortion, etc)
What we offer:
All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.
Base pay is a single component of Astranis's total rewards package, which may also include equity in the form of incentive stock options, high quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance benefits, flexible PTO, 401(K) retirement, and free on-site catered meals.
Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.
Base Salary
$150,000—$200,000 USD
U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required
(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))
Our mission and our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.