Senior RF Systems Engineer

About the Position

We are looking for a Senior RF Systems Engineer to join Leaf Space, a leading provider of satellite and launch vehicle connectivity as-a-service, to define RF architecture and lead link-budget analyses.

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.

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.

We Offer

• A flat and collaborative organizational structure.
• A fast-paced and professional environment within a rapidly growing space scale-up.
• Challenging projects with real impact on the global space ecosystem.
• An international and diverse workplace.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including a welfare platform, meal vouchers, a hybrid work policy supporting work-life balance, and training opportunities.

Compensation & Transparency

• Reports to: Head of Engineering
• Career level: P5-Lead Professional
• Job location: Lomazzo (Como), Italy | Hybrid work model
• Salary range: 60-80K
• Variable compensation: 10% of annual gross salary
• Benefits: Meal vouchers (€8/day); welfare platform; hybrid work policy; training opportunities.

About Leaf Space

Leaf Space operates a fully owned, globally distributed network of ground stations, empowering satellite operators to communicate with their spacecraft in the simplest and most flexible way. Leaf Space enables TT&C (Telemetry, Tracking, and Command) and payload data transmissions via an easy-to-use interface, a proprietary autonomous scheduling software, and its network’s global coverage. Founded in 2014, Leaf Space has offices in Lomazzo (Italy) and in Delaware (US).