Senior RF Engineer, Radar Payload Team

Job description

- Title: Senior RF Engineer, Radar Payload Team - Location: Espoo, Finland - Department: Spacecraft Hardware - Reports to: Radar Payload Team Lead - Employment type: Permanent - Workplace model: Hybrid - Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO) WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS: As a Senior RF Engineer, you’ll own end-to-end RF hardware development for ICEYE’s radar payloads, enabling high-performance SAR capabilities that deliver actionable intelligence from space in near real time. WHO WE ARE ICEYE delivers space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to governments and allied nations. This includes sovereign and turnkey ISR missions leveraging ICEYE’s world-leading synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology, as well as access to data from the world’s largest SAR satellite constellation. These capabilities enable partners to detect and respond to critical changes anywhere on Earth with unprecedented speed and accuracy, day or night and in any weather, supported by ultra high-resolution imagery and high-frequency revisits. As a trusted partner for defense, intelligence, security, and maritime domain awareness, ICEYE’s near real-time data creates a tactical advantage for mission-critical operations. Designed for dual use, the platform also serves civil protection and commercial users for natural-catastrophe intelligence, insurance, maritime monitoring including oil-spill detection, and finance, contributing to global security and community resilience. ICEYE is headquartered in Finland and operates globally across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. We have more than 900 employees, united by a shared vision: improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation. YOUR DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES - Own RF subsystems across the radar chain, including Tx/Rx, front-end, frequency conversion, LO and filtering stages, and interfaces to digital - Translate mission needs into RF requirements, architecture trades, and implementable hardware designs - Design, simulate, and validate RF circuits for X-band and above, ensuring performance aligns with system targets - Execute hands-on lab work, including bring-up, debugging, root-cause analysis, and RF performance tuning - Run EM and circuit simulations and correlate results with measurements to de-risk designs - Create and review schematics and PCB layouts with RF-critical considerations such as impedance control, grounding, and isolation - Define and execute verification strategies, including test plans, validation, and acceptance criteria - Drive technical decisions, mentor engineers, and collaborate cross-functionally to deliver flight-ready hardware WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR MUST HAVES: - 10+ years of experience delivering RF hardware products end-to-end, including shipped or qualified systems - Strong hands-on RF lab expertise with measurement, debugging, and correlation using standard RF test equipment - Proven experience with RF simulation tools such as ADS and 3D EM tools such as HFSS or CST - Solid PCB design experience with RF layout best practices, using tools such as Altium - Deep understanding of RF fundamentals including linearity, noise figure, phase noise, spurs, filtering, and stability - Experience owning RF subsystems across the full lifecycle from requirements through production support - Ability to lead technically, make trade-offs, and communicate clearly across disciplines - Working knowledge of Python for analysis, automation, or tooling NICE TO HAVES: - Experience with radar payloads, spaceborne RF systems, or aerospace or defense hardware - Familiarity with ECSS, MIL-STD, or similar qualification and environmental testing standards - Experience with antenna systems, RF packaging, or high-power and low-noise RF design APPLICATION PROCESS - Recruiter screening - Hiring manager interview - Technical task - Technical panel interview - Final interview WORKING AT ICEYE At ICEYE, you’ll join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. Your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority, with continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture where collaboration is how we win. HOW WE WORK (OUR VALUES) Make the impossible possible: We set ambitious goals and stay calm under pressure. We bring grit, optimism, and ownership when things get hard, and we keep moving until we find a way. - Be curious: Go deep, ask questions, listen carefully, and think critically. Understand the why behind decisions. - See the big picture: Stay close to what’s happening across the company so you can make better decisions. Consider how your work affects others. - Drive effective teamwork: Create psychological safety, invite different perspectives, and build inclusive teams. There are no bad questions. - Act as one team: We win together. We match tasks to the right owner and stay agile as priorities shift. - Have fun: What we do matters and it should be enjoyable. Celebrate progress, take pride in results, and share the wins. BENEFITS Our benefits are designed to support your health and wellbeing, at work and beyond. We keep improving them based on employee feedback, and offerings vary by location. Talent Acquisition will confirm what applies for this role and location during the process. OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table. We’re committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us and we will do our best to help. Apply now to start your ICEYE journey and help us continue to make the impossible possible together. Read more about ICEYE and working with us at iceye.com http://iceye.com.