Senior User Terminal Antenna, RF Specialist

Telesat

Provide technical leadership in satellite user terminal antenna technologies for Telesat Lightspeed. Assess and deploy technologies for fixed and mobile user terminal applications.

Posted 6/26/2026full-timeOttawa • Maryland • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide technical leadership in the evaluation, design, validation, and deployment of satellite user terminal (UT) antenna technologies for the Telesat Lightspeed constellation.
Responsible for the technical assessment of existing and emerging antenna technologies.
Provide technical recommendations to Product Line Management and Systems Engineering teams to support the development of Telesat's user terminal portfolio.
Lead technical engagements with antenna manufacturers, technology providers, and development partners.
Conduct design reviews; support qualification and validation testing.
Contribute to the definition of future antenna architectures and performance requirements.
Model antenna performance and assess operational suitability within the Telesat Lightspeed network.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Telecommunications Engineering, or a related discipline.
Minimum 5 years of experience in satellite communications, antenna systems, user terminal development, or related wireless communication technologies.
Experience in antenna design, testing, integration, or performance evaluation.
Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field preferred.
Ph.D. with research focused on phased-array antennas, electronically steerable antennas, electromagnetics, RF systems, or related technologies preferred.
Direct experience developing or deploying electronically steerable antennas (ESAs) for satellite communications preferred.
Strong understanding of phased-array antenna architectures, beamforming techniques, and antenna control systems.
Knowledge of satellite antenna technologies including flat-panel ESAs, tracking reflector antennas, and hybrid architectures operating in Ku- and Ka-band frequencies.
Understanding of satellite communications systems, including user terminals, modems, gateways, and network architectures.
Knowledge of RF subsystems including power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, up/down conversion chains, and antenna calibration techniques.
Familiarity with satellite communication physical-layer concepts such as modulation, coding, link budgets, G/T, EIRP, and interference analysis.
Understanding of global regulatory and licensing requirements affecting satellite communications equipment.
Strong foundation in electromagnetics, antenna theory, and propagation.
Experience with RFIC, beamforming IC, and phased-array technology selection and evaluation.
Knowledge of design-for-manufacture (DFM), production processes, and cost optimization for antenna systems.
Experience integrating antenna systems with modems, networking equipment, and user terminal hardware platforms.
Fluent in English, both written and verbal.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equal opportunity employer
Accommodations throughout the interview process

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

antenna designperformance evaluationphased-array antennaselectronically steerable antennasbeamforming techniquesRF systemssatellite communicationsmodulationlink budgetsantenna calibration techniques

Soft Skills

technical leadershipcommunicationcollaborationproblem-solvinganalytical thinking

Certifications

Bachelor's degree in Electrical EngineeringMaster's degree in Electrical EngineeringPh.D. in related field