Systems Communications Payload Engineer

Actalent - Houston, TX

Full-time - Mid Level

Remote - Houston, TX

10,001+ employees

Administrative and Support Services

About the position

The Payload Telecommunication Engineer is responsible for the design and analysis of payload architecture, focusing on RF system performance and performance budgets throughout the payload life cycle. This role involves participation in various phases including bids, requirement definitions, project implementation, testing, and R&D activities aimed at enhancing payloads or processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to and/or lead payload design activities.
• Participate in the evaluation of Payload electrical and RF System performance.
• Write engineering documentation, including system requirements, SOC, verification and validation matrix, design description, systems budgets, equipment specifications, and test requirements.
• Perform system worst-case analysis and support program reviews such as EQSR, SRR, PDR, and CDR.
• Oversee Payload assembly, integration, and testing, and attend test reviews (TRR, TRB, DRB, and NCR's).
• Support Payload testing, including EGSE, test supervision, and data analysis.
• Assist with Satellite tests at S/C supplier premises and support In-Orbit Tests (IOT).
• Provide technical monitoring of major subcontractors.
• Draft the Payload Operations Manual.

Requirements

• Experience with payload architecture design.
• Proficiency in RF system performance analysis and performance budgets.
• Ability to define requirements and participate in bids.
• Familiarity with Direct Radiating Array (DRA) Antenna with multiple active elements.
• Knowledge of digital signal processing.
• Understanding of DVB-S2X and DVB-RCS2 air interface standards and their applications.
• Experience with Digital MODEM, Digital Channelizer, and Digital Beam Forming.
• Knowledge of Network Switching protocols (Ethernet, MPLS) for non-terrestrial applications.
• Experience with payload testing activities and payload test methods.
• Proficiency in RF Communication System modeling and simulation.
• Familiarity with digital communication interfaces such as Spacewire and CANBus.
• Proficiency in English; French fluency is an asset.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in writing detailed engineering documentation.
• Ability to perform system worst-case analysis.
• Experience with test reviews and payload assembly integration.
• Ability to support satellite tests at supplier premises.
• Experience with in-orbit testing and technical monitoring of subcontractors.