Who We Are:
Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace. At Venus, we’re looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion.
The Role: Principal RF Engineer
Join us as an RF Telemetry Engineer and help design, build and flight test revolutionary propulsion technology. You’ll lead assessment of link budgets, design of both ground stations and onboard radio and antenna systems, and system testing to ensure we gather critical test data. This role blends analysis, mission planning, hands‑on engineering, hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration to deliver reliable, flight‑ready systems. If you excel at systems thinking, flight systems implementations and solving hard problems, you’ll thrive here.
What You'll Get To Do
Design, build and fly your systems
Lead the architecture, design, and selection of telemetry hardware, radios, antennas and ground stations
Conduct link analysis on a range of flight regimes as we rapidly improve our vehicle capabilities
Design ground stations and ground station networks to capture flight data and send commands
Deconflict frequency plans in different launch environments
Define requirements, conduct trade studies and select radios and antennas to complete the mission
Develop and maintain hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) test environments to support software development, integration, and verification
Support system integration, ground testing, and flight testing, including troubleshooting and root cause analysis
Assess system risks and recommend mitigations
Collaborate with external vendors and suppliers to define requirements, evaluate components, manage technical trade studies, and support procurement
Author and review technical documentation, including requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), schematics, test plans, and verification reports
Collaborate with Flight Software, Avionics, IT, GN&C, Aerodynamics, and Structures engineering disciplines to ascertain system requirements and meet technical program needs
Collaborate with Manufacturing and Quality to ensure your systems are ready to fly
What You Have
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field. Alternatively, Radar Systems or Data Science experience, with a strong quantitative and mechanical measurements foundation
5+ years of experience in RF telemetry in rocket, missile or space applications
Experience conducting link analysis for flight vehicles in the supersonic and hypersonic flight regimes
Experience writing requirements, conducting trade studies, selecting onboard antennas, and radios
Experience placing and designing ground systems to receive data from and send commands
Experience implementing and troubleshooting grounding, bonding, and shielding solutions for analog-to-digital instrumentation signals in multi-band RF environments
Strong background in hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing and integration
Experience working with and managing outside vendors, including technical evaluations and supplier coordination
Strong troubleshooting and systems-level thinking skills
Experience with environmental testing and qualification
Key Competencies: systems-level avionics expertise; cross-functional collaboration; vendor and supplier management; clear technical communication
What Will Set You Apart
Strong experience with small vehicle avionics teams
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with diverse teams
Familiarity with embedded systems, buses and protocols (CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, MIL-STD-1553, etc.).
Experience managing contractors for consulting or hardware production
Multiple launch campaigns under your belt
Experience contributing to design reviews and flight safety reviews with range stakeholders
Location:On-site in Houston, TX
Benefits:Venus Aerospace employee benefits include a 401(k) plan, stock options, and medical benefits, including dental and vision. We have a flex-Friday flexible schedule, unlimited PTO, and receive professional development opportunities.
ITAR Requirements
This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be able to meet ITAR requirements (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State). You can learn more about ITAR here.
Venus Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation, please email [email protected] or call (281) 203-0027.This email and phone number were created exclusively to assist job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Messages or any other purposes, such as following up on an application, third party staffing agencies, website technical issues, or any other issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response. Messages will be returned within five business days.
For additional information about our Equal Opportunity Employment Policy, please visit our EEOP page.
