Senior Manager, Spectrum Licensing

Job description

Why LeoLabs? At LeoLabs, we're building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions. We're not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations. If you're looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here. The Opportunity LeoLabs is expanding its global network of ground-based radars, and securing the Radio Frequency regulatory approvals required to deploy and operate those systems is critical to that growth. In this role, you will lead LeoLabs' global RF permitting function, owning the operational strategy and execution for spectrum licensing, experimental and permanent operating authorities, equipment certification, and type approval across new and existing markets. This is a senior RF operations and program leadership role operating at the intersection of RF engineering, government engagement, site selection, and deployment. Some jurisdictions offer clear licensing pathways; others require extensive consultation, local representation, technical studies, and persistence to establish a workable path. You will be accountable for understanding those differences early, translating them into practical plans, and driving approvals to completion. You will work closely with the Company’s Site Selection and Acquisition team, the Hardware Engineering team, and the Legal Department, as well as testing laboratories, in-country consultants, and other external specialists. This role is based in the United States, with the West Coast strongly preferred, requires regular domestic and international travel, and reports to the Senior Director of Global Infrastructure. Responsibilities: Owning LeoLabs' global RF permitting program and operational strategy for new and existing radar locations, including spectrum licensing, equipment certification requirements in different global jurisdictions, type approval requirements, and related RF regulatory approvals. Under the direction of the Legal Department: Collaborating closely with Legal on matters involving interpretation of applicable law, novel or ambiguous legal or regulatory requirements, material legal or regulatory risk, material license conditions or commitments, and regulatory positions that may create legal obligations or significant risk for LeoLabs. Investigating and documenting regulatory requirements and approval pathways for proposed deployments in new countries and jurisdictions, including responsible regulators, application categories, technical evidence, local applicant or representative requirements, testing, fees, lead times, and renewal obligations. Developing jurisdiction-specific RF licensing strategies and identifying permitting and implementation risks, dependencies, decision points, and critical-path activities early enough to inform site selection, deployment sequencing, and investment decisions. Actively supporting early engagement with spectrum regulators and other government agencies to validate proposed pathways, clarify technical and procedural novel requirements, and reduce the risk of late-stage surprises before formal submissions are made. Actively assisting in the preparation of spectrum license applications from feasibility through approval, including preparation of application strategies, technical annexes, supporting studies, regulator responses, license conditions, modifications, and renewals. Maintaining LeoLabs’ existing radar-site RF licenses, including tracking license conditions, managing renewals and modifications, and monitoring compliance with operational and technical license requirements. Working with LeoLabs' experienced RF engineers and Hardware Engineering team to obtain antenna characteristics, emission parameters, radiation patterns, simulations, interference studies, test data, and other technical evidence required by regulators. Owning the coordination of equipment certification and type approval workstreams in jurisdictions where LeoLabs is considering deploying radars. This includes identifying applicable standards, local testing or certification requirements, import-related approvals where applicable, and coordinating with accredited laboratories, certification bodies, and local representatives. Integrating RF regulatory considerations into new radar site selection by identifying potential interference or spectrum compatibility concerns and determining when detailed engineering analysis is required. Coordinating new site interference analyses and reviews with LeoLabs' RF Engineering team or external specialists when specialist engineering judgement is required. Project managing regulatory approvals across multiple countries and deployments, including schedules, budgets, risks, dependencies, consultant deliverables, internal technical inputs, regulator actions, and executive decision points. Selecting, briefing, and managing local RF regulatory consultants and technical advisers while retaining internal ownership of RF permitting execution, quality, schedule, and outcomes. Legal will manage legal counsel and advisers engaged to provide legal advice. Building and maintaining a global network of spectrum regulators, regulatory advisers, testing laboratories, certification specialists, and in-country contacts who can support LeoLabs' expansion into both straightforward and difficult regulatory environments. Establishing scalable processes, templates, checklists, consultant scopes of work, country playbooks, decision records, license trackers, renewal controls, and a central knowledge base for global RF permitting. Preparing concise leadership updates and recommendations on RF permitting feasibility, approval probability, schedule, operational and technical risk, mitigation options, and whether a proposed location or licensing strategy should advance, pause, or change. Required Qualifications Located on the U.S. West Coast (Pacific or Mountain time zones) 10+ years of experience in spectrum management, RF regulatory operations, RF compliance, telecommunications licensing, or a closely related technical or regulatory field. Demonstrated experience obtaining spectrum licenses or equivalent RF operating approvals, including direct engagement with government spectrum regulators. Strong working knowledge of RF fundamentals, including frequency allocations, bandwidth, emissions, antenna characteristics, propagation, interference, and spectrum compatibility. Demonstrated ability to navigate complex, ambiguous, or novel regulatory environments where the approval pathway is not fully defined at the outset. Strong project or program management capability, including schedule, risk, dependency, consultant, budget, and stakeholder management across multiple concurrent workstreams. Ability to understand and operationalize regulatory requirements and translate them into clear technical inputs, application requirements, consultant scopes, and internal actions, and to identify matters requiring escalation to Legal or other subject-matter experts. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to turn incomplete or highly technical information into clear recommendations for senior leadership and external stakeholders. Strong judgement and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to work effectively with regulators, engineers, government officials, consultants, and executives. Strong recordkeeping discipline and a high standard for documentation quality, version control, decision logs, license records, and organized project files. Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally and undertake field work at prospective radar sites. Based in the United States and eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Preferred Qualifications Experience with radar, radiolocation, satellite, aerospace, defense, telecommunications, or other high-power RF systems. Experience securing spectrum approvals across multiple countries or regions, including jurisdictions with complex government or regulatory processes. Experience with equipment certification, RF/EMC compliance testing, international type approval, or laboratory certification programs. Experience conducting RF spectrum surveys using spectrum analyzers, antennas, and associated test equipment and interpreting the resulting data. Experience performing or reviewing RF interference, compatibility, propagation, or coexistence analysis. Existing international network of spectrum regulators, regulatory consultants, testing laboratories, or certification specialists. Degree in electrical or RF engineering, telecommunications, physics, or another relevant technical discipline; equivalent practical experience is also valued. PMP, PgMP, or equivalent project/program management experience. Within 3 months, you'll Establish the operating model, priorities, reporting cadence, and core standards for LeoLabs' global RF permitting function. Review active and planned radar deployments, current license workstreams, consultant engagements, and country-specific regulatory risks, and identify immediate gaps or critical-path actions. Build strong working relationships with Radar Engineering, Site Selection and Acquisition, Legal, and other key stakeholders. Have reviewed all existing LeoLabs radar-site RF licenses, documented applicable conditions and renewal dates, and established a reliable process for ongoing tracking and operational compliance, modifications and renewals. Within 6 months, you'll Be actively managing the global RF regulatory portfolio with clear country strategies, schedules, risk visibility, decision points, and consultant accountability. Have implemented repeatable approaches for preliminary RF surveys, regulatory feasibility assessments, license applications, type approval, document control, and renewal tracking. Have expanded LeoLabs' network of trusted local regulatory consultants, laboratories, and government contacts in priority jurisdictions. Within 12 months, you'll Have built a scalable global RF permitting capability that identifies regulatory risk early and supports faster, better-informed radar deployment decisions. Have improved the predictability, quality, and schedule control of spectrum licensing and equipment approval workstreams across multiple jurisdictions. Have established a durable country knowledge base, external adviser network, and internal operating model that reduces dependency on ad hoc regulatory discovery for each new deployment. Compensation The base salary range for this position is up to $203,000 USD + bonus + stock options + benefits  Compensation Note: The salary range for this position is benchmarked based on the designated primary work location for the role. Final compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate's work location, applicable market data, experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Perks and Benefits $100 USD monthly wellness benefit to support your health and well-being $300 USD home office setup stipend, available for use within your first six months $75 USD monthly home internet allowance, paid directly through your regular paycheck Individual Development Fund to support training, learning, and professional development Employee Recognition Program to celebrate contributions and achievements across the team ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. More information regarding ITAR can be found at DDTC’s website.  Vendor Notification LeoLabs does not engage external staffing agencies or third-party recruiting firms for this role. Unsolicited candidate submissions will not be considered. We are committed to maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace where employees are valued for their skills, experience, and contributions. We are an equal opportunity employer and make employment decisions based on qualifications, skills, experience, and business needs, consistent with applicable law. #CJ