User Terminal Modem RF Engineer

We are seeking a mid‑level RF engineer to support the technical management, production readiness, and lifecycle sustainment of an UT Modem/RF module used for DVB operation within the Telesat Lightspeed LEO network.

This role is hands‑on but product‑focused—ideal for an engineer who understands RF hardware deeply, but operates comfortably at the intersection of systems engineering, product and program management, manufacturing, test, and sustaining support.

You will act as a technical anchor for the UT Modem/RF module as it transitions from development into qualification, volume production, deployment, and long‑term operational support.

Main Responsibilities

RF Module Technical Stewardship

• Serve as a technical owner for an RF module supporting DVB-S/S2/S2X and/or DVB-RCS2 operation in a LEO satellite network.
• Support RF architecture definition and performance budgets (gain, noise figure, linearity, phase noise, spurious emissions).
• Ensure RF performance compliance across process, voltage, temperature, aging, and environmental corners.
• Support system-level trade studies and impact assessments when requirements or operating conditions evolve.

Design Review & Engineering Oversight

• Review and approve RF schematics and PCB layouts produced by internal or external design teams.
• Ensure adherence to best practices for:
  • RF grounding and isolation
  • EMI/EMC mitigation
  • Shielding and thermal management
  • Mixed-signal partitioning
• Participate in formal design and readiness reviews (PDR, CDR, MRR), identifying technical risks and proposing mitigation strategies.

Manufacturing & Production Support (Primary Emphasis)

• Act as the engineering interface to contract manufacturers (CMs), ODMs, and key suppliers.
• Lead or support DFM/DFT/DFS reviews, with focus on yield, repeatability, and long-term producibility.
• Define and maintain:
  • Manufacturing test strategies
  • Acceptance criteria
  • Golden units and correlation plans
• Support EVT/DVT/PVT builds and production ramp‑up.
• Analyze production data (yield, fallout, trends) and drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Own or support ECO/ECR processes, ensuring controlled and traceable changes throughout the product lifecycle.

Test, Verification & Interoperability

• Develop, review, and maintain RF, functional, and system-level test procedures.
• Support validation and production testing including:
  • EVM / MER
  • ACLR
  • Phase noise
  • Harmonics and spurious emissions
  • DVB waveform compliance
• Work closely with system and test teams to ensure requirements traceability and verification completeness.
• Support environmental, thermal, and reliability testing aligned with high-reliability or aerospace practices.

Embedded Control & Firmware Collaboration

• Support embedded control architectures used to configure and monitor RF hardware.
• Review and support interfaces such as SPI, I2C, and UART.
• Collaborate with firmware teams on:
  • Board bring-up
  • Calibration and compensation routines
  • Telemetry, health monitoring, and diagnostics
• Ensure embedded control supports both manufacturing test and in‑service operation.

Product Lifecycle & Sustaining Engineering

• Provide ongoing engineering support for deployed hardware, including:
  • Field issues
  • Performance anomalies
  • Failure analysis and returns
• Manage component lifecycle risks, including obsolescence and second‑source qualification.
• Maintain configuration control, technical documentation, and manufacturing records in PLM systems.
• Support long-term product roadmap considerations, including upgrades and end-of-life planning.

Education and Experience

• B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering or related discipline (M.Sc. preferred).
• 3-6 years of experience supporting RF hardware in production or operational environments.
• Strong understanding of RF components and subsystems (LNAs, mixers, PLLs, PAs, filters).
• Experience reviewing RF schematics and PCB layouts, rather than performing layout work.
• Familiarity with DVB physical‑layer concepts and performance metrics.
• Hands‑on experience supporting test development and automation (Python/SCPI, LabVIEW).
• Demonstrated experience working with manufacturing partners and supporting production issues.
• Strong documentation, change management, and cross‑team communication skills.

Specialized Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience with LEO satellite systems or user terminals.
• Exposure to systems engineering practices (requirements decomposition, verification planning).
• Experience working with ODMs or high‑volume CMs.
• Familiarity with embedded Linux, Yocto, or board‑level bring‑up support.
• Exposure to EMI/EMC compliance or aerospace qualification testing.
• Experience sustaining products post‑deployment.
• Experience working with external vendors and Product Management organization.
• Lifecycle Ownership: Comfortable owning hardware beyond initial design.
• Manufacturing Empathy: Designs and decisions informed by production realities.
• Systems Thinking: Understands how RF modules fit into larger communication systems.
• Execution Focus: Drives issues to closure across organizational boundaries.
• Clear Communicator: Effectively interfaces with RF, systems, firmware, test, and suppliers.

Working Conditions

• This position will be based out of the Ottawa, ON office.
• Full‑time office or hybrid 4 days office/1 day remote, subject to work needs.
• Working conditions are generally comfortable typical of an office environment.
• Combination of lab, manufacturing, and office work.
• On‑site presence required for debug, FA, and production support activities.
• Occasional travel to manufacturing and UT development partners and test facilities (10-15%).
• Candidate must be able to obtain relevant security clearance for Canada.

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