Joblaze summary

The Principal RF Antenna Engineer at K2 Space focuses on designing and validating advanced RF and microwave electronics for high-power satellites. This role requires expertise in antenna systems, environmental testing, and RF hardware, with a strong background in microwave engineering. Ideal candidates will have over eight years of relevant experience and thrive in a fast-paced startup environment. K2 Space is rapidly scaling its satellite production, making this an exciting opportunity for those looking to contribute to groundbreaking aerospace technology.

Joblaze insights

Listed about 2 months ago — first seen on Joblaze September 3, 2026. Last confirmed on K2 Space's careers page November 4, 2026.
Salary band is above the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$128,000).
Starts above 71% of 125 comparable principal other roles we track (median $181,913 across 34 companies).
RF appears in 4.2% of 358 comparable principal other roles; high-speed converters appears in 0.3% of 358 comparable principal other roles.

Quick facts

What's the salary range?: K2 Space lists $200,000–$270,000 for this role.
How much experience is required?: At least 8 years of relevant experience for this Principal RF Antenna Engineer role.
What's the tech stack?: Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: Altair FEKO, Ansys Electronics Desktop HFSS, Antenna, DSP, Environmental Testing, FPGA.
What seniority level is this role?: K2 Space targets principal-level candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?: Full-time for this Principal RF Antenna Engineer role at K2 Space.

From the original posting

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by over $1 billion in total funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price — and with over $1 billion in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers, we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.

The Role

You will be responsible for the design & validation of radio-frequency (RF) and microwave electronics to be hosted on some of the largest, most powerful, rapidly designed, and rapidly manufactured satellites ever deployed in space. In your first 6 months, you will work with a multidisciplinary team of antenna, RF, field programmable gate array (FPGA), digital signal processing (DSP), software, mechanical, and electrical engineers in order to prototype your systems and refine your designs. In your first two years you will have contributed to developing cutting-edge RF systems that will fly in space.

Responsibilities

Lead research, design, and procurement of antenna systems
Qualify radio-frequency and antenna hardware through environmental testing, including vibration, shock, thermal, and thermal vacuum (TVAC)
Assist with design and validation testing for radio-frequency and microwave hardware from UHF through Ka band, including antennas, low noise amplifiers, power amplifiers, filters, high-speed converters, and other RF electronic components
Execute development and production tests to meet internal and external customer needs
Collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders to integrate your designs into the spacecraft system

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in computer, electrical, aerospace engineering, or other relevant science, technology, or mathematics discipline
8+ years of experience in microwave, RF, or antenna engineering
Experience with RF test equipment such as vector network analyzers (VNA), spectrum analyzer, etc.
Experience with anechoic chambers and antenna measurement assets such as near field scanners
Ability to work in a fast-paced and high velocity start-up atmosphere

Nice to Have

Master’s or Ph.D. degree in a field related to antenna design and analysis
Experience with environmental testing for space electronics such as thermal, vibration, TVAC, radiation, and EMI/EMC testing per standards such as SMC-S-016
Experience with RF systems testing, including antenna characterization and insertion loss tests
Experience with antenna and electromagnetic modeling and analysis software tools such as Ansys Electronics Desktop HFSS and Altair FEKO
Experience with software defined radio hardware development including high speed RF data converters (digital to analog and analog to digital converters), clock trees, and data converter interfaces

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $200,000 - $270,000 + equity in the company
Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

Standard company text repeated across K2 Space's postings is omitted here.

Principal RF Antenna Engineer

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