---
title: 'Sr. RF Engineer at Xona Space Systems'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-rf-engineer-xona-space-systems-burlingame-jhaxw48t94g2'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-14'
---

# Sr. RF Engineer at Xona Space Systems

- **Company:** Xona Space Systems
- **Location:** Burlingame, CA
- **Compensation:** $170k–$200k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-05-19
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-14
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/xona-space/dc9d48fd-7899-4473-b8c9-dd4d1cd23891/application

**Skills:** Electromagnetic principles, PCBA schematics interpretation, PCB ECAD, Altium, RF test equipment, Multimeters, Oscilloscopes, Signal generators, Spectrum analyzers, Antenna design, Antenna testing, RF amplifier tuning, RF circuit tuning, L-Band RF design, S-Band RF design, C-Band RF design, Ansys HFSS, Keysight ADS, AWR Microwave Office, RF test set-ups

> Design, implement, test, and optimize RF systems for next-generation GNSS satellites and ground monitoring systems. The role involves PCB design, antenna testing, and simulation to ensure high-accuracy PNT services while complying with government export regulations.

## Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

As an Sr. RF Engineer at Xona, you'll be designing, implementing, testing, and optimizing RF systems to enable our next-generation GNSS system. From spacecraft payload electronics to ground monitoring systems, your work will ensure the end-to-end RF broadcast system delivers Xona’s high-accuracy and high-precision PNT service.

Required Qualifications

- Understanding of electromagnetic principles behind radio frequency communications.
- Ability to interpret PCBA schematics and layout drawings. Familiarity with PCB ECAD tools such as Altium.
- Hands-on experience using electrical/RF test equipment, including multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, and spectrum analyzers.
- Knowledge of typical performance metrics for RF communications systems.
- Hands-on experience/coursework with antenna design and/or testing. Familiarity with 3D EM simulations tools such as Ansys HFSS.
- RF amplifier and circuits tuning
- RF Design experience in L-Band, S-Band and C Band
- Familiarity with RF circuit simulation tools, such as Keysight ADS or AWR Microwave Office.
- Hands-on experience with RF test set-ups and calibrations.
- Ability to analyze and interpret RF test data, and assess performance vs. design requirements.
- Willing and able to travel to support off-site testing events as needed.
- Self-starter attitude and proactive in seeing projects from design through implementation.
- Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, cross-team collaborative environment.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work closely with multidisciplinary teams and external partners to achieve project goals.
- To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

## Preferred Qualifications

- 3 - 5 years of RF engineering experience
- Experience with space RF electronics, with an understanding of phenomena such as multipaction.
- Knowledge/experience with GNSS systems.
- Proven RF PCB and/or antenna designs from past work.
- Implementation of passive or active RF sub-systems whether on the bench or on PCBs.

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

## About Xona Space Systems

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Xona Space Systems is building Pulsar, a high-integrity positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) constellation in Low Earth Orbit that delivers authenticated, centimeter-accurate services as a resilient alternative to GPS.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C – $170M raised ~April 2026)
- **Headquarters**: Burlingame, California, USA (also offices in Montreal, Canada and London, England)
- **Founded**: 2019
- **Founders**: Brian Manning (CEO), Tyler Reid (CTO), Adrien Perkins (VP of Engineering)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace / Satellite Navigation, Defense & Critical Infrastructure, Autonomous Systems
- **Target customers**: B2B / B2G – enterprise, government, defense, autonomous robotics, construction, industrial IoT, and any application requiring resilient PNT
- **Mission**: “Unlock the potential of tomorrow’s technologies by providing the most robust and accurate navigation and timing services on Earth.”

## Products & Services
- **Pulsar Constellation**: A network of 258 small, software-defined satellites in LEO broadcasting secured, authenticated PNT signals. Offers native user accuracy at centimeter level and is designed to upgrade existing GPS devices via a software update.
- **Pulsar‑Verified Receivers & Simulators**: Certified hardware and test platforms for integrators. Includes reference designs and simulation tools.
- **Time Authentication Service**: A cryptographic layer that validates the origin and integrity of timing signals, providing resilience against spoofing and jamming.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (conflicting reports may exist; no official figure available)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding $327.53M (CB Insights); latest Series C closed ~April 2026 (amount $170M)
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Not publicly disclosed (funding specifics unknown). Key partners include Murata (MOU for LEO navigation in industrial applications), the Government of Canada (R&D collaboration to strengthen timing resilience), and the National Research Council of Canada.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Successfully launched Pulsar‑0, the first commercially funded navigation satellite, now in orbit for one year (June 2026).
  - 11+ patents filed (encrypted navigation signals, wireless locating, etc.).
  - Active hiring in Burlingame, Montreal, and London; 828 employees on LinkedIn as of mid‑2026.
  - Collaboration with ISED, NRC, and DRDC to broadcast Canada’s official time signal (UTC(NRC)) from space.

## Competitive Advantages
- **First‑mover with a privately funded navigation satellite** – Pulsar‑0 set a precedent for commercial LEO PNT.
- **Authenticated signals** – Cryptographic security native to the signal provides spoofing/jamming resistance unmatched by traditional GPS.
- **Software‑defined satellites** – Rapid constellation scaling and in‑orbit updates at a fraction of legacy system cost.
- **Multi‑national timing broadcast** – Ability to carry multiple official time standards (US, UK, Canada) on a shared infrastructure, creating sovereign resilience for allies.

## Strategic Focus
- **Constellation deployment** – Scale from prototype (Pulsar‑0) to a full production fleet of 258 satellites.
- **Ecosystem enablement** – Grow partner network of receiver makers, chipset vendors, and integrators (e.g., Murata, government bodies).
- **Geographic expansion** – Establish a strong presence in Canada (Montreal) and the UK (London) while deepening relationships with allied governments.
- **Defense & critical infrastructure** – Pursue contracts that require autonomous, tamper‑proof PNT for military, aviation, and grid timing.

## Why Work Here
- **Impact** – Work on “a generational technology at startup speed”; decisions are pushed to the people closest to the work. Culture of ownership and rapid iteration.
- **Compensation** – Competitive salary, equity (ownership culture), 401(k) / Roth 401(k).
- **Benefits** – 95% of healthcare premiums covered for US employees (50% for dependents); HSA/FSA options; supportive parental leave (equitable); flexible time off.
- **Workplace** – Burlingame office with catered lunches twice a week, snacks, drinks, coffee. Roles also in Montreal and London (hybrid likely per location, but remote‑first not stated).
- **Culture** – Engineering‑driven, fast‑shipping, collaborative; team includes leaders from industry and academia.

## Sources
1. [xonaspace.com](https://www.xonaspace.com/)
2. [xonaspace.com/careers](https://www.xonaspace.com/careers)
3. [xonaspace.com/mission](https://www.xonaspace.com/mission)
4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/xonaspace)
5. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/xona-space-systems)

## Other roles at Xona Space Systems

- [Materials & Inventory Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/materials-inventory-specialist-xona-space-systems-burlingame-p58ech32axv8) — Burlingame, CA
- [Développeur(-euse) principal(e) de produits, Fullstack / Senior Product Developer](https://feeny.ai/job/developpeur-euse-principal-e-de-produits-fullstack-senior-product-developer-5ms7v4x25mjs) — Montréal, Canada
- [Mechanical Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-designer-xona-space-systems-montreal-ag4x17p05a7c) — Montréal, Canada
- [Manufacturing Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-specialist-xona-space-systems-montreal-4bc9hnte6h2t) — Montréal, Canada
- [Manufacturing Technician / Technicien(ne) en Fabrication](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-technician-technicien-ne-en-fabrication-xona-space-systems-j5tdvq7300ys) — Montréal, Canada
- [Spacecraft Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/spacecraft-test-engineer-xona-space-systems-burlingame-rs38mda13pmy) — Burlingame, CA
- [Manufacturing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-engineer-xona-space-systems-burlingame-6qxd9mezckkj) — Burlingame, CA
- [Software Developer / Développeur(euse) logiciel](https://feeny.ai/job/software-developer-developpeur-euse-logiciel-xona-space-systems-montreal-wf929qs3v0rr) — Montréal, Canada
- [Cloud Infrastructure Engineer - Platform Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/cloud-infrastructure-engineer-platform-engineering-xona-space-systems-burlingame-96dpvd85gdtc) — Burlingame, CA
- [Spécialiste GNSS / GNSS Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/specialiste-gnss-gnss-specialist-xona-space-systems-montreal-6shb1yzhx57k) — Montréal, Canada