Senior RF Engineer

Be part of a young and visionary team on a path to innovation. Our goal: sustainable human resilience in Space! At ARCA Dynamics, you'll be part of a fast-growing international team tackling some of the most exciting challenges in the space industry. Whether your expertise lies in spacecraft engineering, software development, AI, data processing, mission operations, or systems integration, you'll contribute directly to technologies shaping the future of space security and infrastructures. We are seeking an experienced Senior RF Engineer to strengthen our hardware development capabilities in the field of passive RF payloads for small satellites, for the aerospace and defense sector. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, integrating, and validating innovative RF payload solutions addressing challenging scenarios in orbit, where no equivalent system has been deployed in space to date. The role includes developing robust solutions for demanding technical and environmental constraints, while continuously enhancing the performance and reliability of the payload architecture. This candidate will carry out activities spanning both Research & Development tasks and Assembly, Integration & Verification (AIV) / Operations tasks, to create innovative, state-of-the-art solutions with strong technical impact. The selected candidate will contribute to the development of next-generation capabilities that support mission-critical space-based RF sensing activities. Key Responsibilities

Design, develop, and optimize passive RF payload architectures, covering the full signal chain from antenna front-end to digital back-end. Define and manage the analog and digital RF signal processing chain, including antenna design, filtering, low-noise amplification, frequency conversion, and signal conditioning. Design, select, and integrate antenna hardware suited to the constraints of small satellite platforms (mass, volume, power, thermal). Develop and integrate SDR (Software Defined Radio)-based subsystems, including configuration, calibration, and interfacing with onboard processing units. Oversee the deployment, configuration, and validation of embedded software supporting RF payload operations, in coordination with the software/firmware team. Study the scientific and technical literature to identify state-of-the-art RF and antenna solutions applicable to novel, first-of-a-kind space payloads. Design, execute, and oversee validation and test campaigns (RF characterization, antenna pattern measurements, environmental and functional testing) to assess payload performance, robustness, and readiness for flight. Support the transition of the payload from prototype to flight-qualified hardware, ensuring reliability, manufacturability, and compliance with space-qualification standards. Contribute basic electronics design and troubleshooting support (power supply, interfacing, PCB-level debugging) where needed to support payload integration. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, promoting knowledge sharing and the adoption of best practices across the organization. Cross-Functional Collaboration: work closely with systems engineering, software, mechanical, and program management teams to ensure consistency and alignment with the technical and strategic objectives of the company. Requirements

Solid expertise in both analog and digital RF signal processing, including modulation/demodulation, filtering, frequency conversion, and link budget analysis. Hands-on experience with antenna design and characterization, SDR hardware/software integration, and deployment of embedded software for RF subsystems. Basic competences in electronics (analog/digital circuits, PCB-level understanding) will be considered a favourable plus. Excellent communication skills, with proficiency in English and Italian (additional languages are a plus). Ability to work in dynamic, multidisciplinary and international environments, adapting to evolving technologies and methodologies, and comfortable operating in a first-of-a-kind, highly innovative technical context with limited flight heritage. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and capacity to work autonomously, anticipate risks and opportunities. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and capacity to work autonomously, anticipate risks and opportunities. ABOUT ARCA Dynamics

ARCA Dynamics is an innovative aerospace company headquartered in Rome, Italy, specializing in space-based Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA) technologies. Founded in 2016, the company develops advanced solutions to monitor and track Resident Space Objects (RSOs), helping make space operations safer, more secure, and more sustainable. Operating across the entire orbital tracking value chain, ARCA currently provides operational SST services based on space-based observations. Building on this experience, the company is developing its proprietary SMART optical payload, combining advanced image-processing software and onboard detection algorithms to enable autonomous space-based observation and tracking capabilities. The SMART payload will be integrated on ARCA’S FALCO 6U CubeSat platform, set to launch in 2027. ARCA’s vision for the futureis to deploy a dedicated constellation of CubeSats equipped with SMART payloads, creating a proprietary, independent space surveillance infrastructure capable of delivering real-time monitoring and enhanced space situational awareness services. The company's technological maturity has been demonstrated through multiple in-orbit missions and international collaborations: Italian MoD, ESA, EUSST, US Space Force. Driven by a vision to make space safer and more accessible, ARCA combines cutting-edge engineering, satellite systems development, onboard autonomy, and innovative surveillance technologies to support both civil and defense space operations. Through partnerships with leading organizations across the aerospace sector, ARCA continues to push the boundaries of space security and orbital awareness.

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