DSP Systems Engineer

Northwood is on a mission to transform connectivity between Earth and space. Satellites are only as powerful as the ground systems that connect to them - without that critical infrastructure, they can’t be steered or send their data back to Earth. Northwood’s global ground network ensures that missions ranging from national security, to global connectivity, to disaster response can unlock their full potential and operate every day without fail. We take a vertically integrated approach to building an end-to-end ground system, delivering technology that is scalable and reliable for both government and commercial customers. Backed by over $100M from investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Washington Harbour Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, Founders Fund, and others, Northwood has proven its ability to move fast – we’ve stood up a fully operational site in Australia in just 3 months, where similar efforts typically take years. Northwood is rapidly scaling its global footprint, with 30+ sites planned across 2026 and 2027. We’re building and deploying infrastructure at a pace the industry hasn’t seen before. If you thrive on building quickly, solving hard problems, and seeing your work deployed globally on critical missions, we want you at Northwood. FORWARD DEPLOYED RF ENGINEER (RF SYSTEMS) We are looking for a Forward Deployed RF Engineer to lead customer-facing RF integration, validation, and testing efforts. You will be responsible for ensuring compatibility between Northwood’s RF systems and customer payloads, owning the process from initial requirements through on-site integration and mission readiness. This includes hardware-in-the-loop testing, system-level validation, and deep collaboration with both internal engineering teams and external customers. This role is a great fit for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of RF hardware, systems integration, and real-world deployment. You should be comfortable debugging complex RF systems, working hands-on with hardware, and operating in dynamic, customer-driven environments. We care more about your ability to solve problems and deliver working systems than any specific number of years of experience. RESPONSIBILITIES: - Own RF compatibility and integration efforts with customer systems, ensuring successful end-to-end mission performance - Lead hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and integration testing for RF and communication systems - Validate RF designs against real-world constraints, including customer hardware, link conditions, and mission requirements - Serve as the technical interface between Northwood and customers for RF-related topics - Debug and resolve system-level issues across RF, digital, and software boundaries - Develop and execute test plans for system validation, including lab and field environments - Work closely with DSP, FPGA, and RF design engineers to ensure designs are robust and deployable - Support deployment, bring-up, and commissioning of RF systems in the field BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: - Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree, in electrical engineering or a related field - Hands-on experience with RF hardware and lab equipment (e.g., spectrum analyzers, signal generators, network analyzers) - Experience with software-defined radios (SDRs) and digital communication systems - Solid understanding of RF fundamentals, including link budgets, interference, and signal integrity - Strong debugging skills across hardware and system-level issues - Demonstrated ownership of a system or integration outcome: you built it, tested it, and made it work in the real world PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: - Experience with satellite communications or space systems - Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and system validation frameworks - Experience working directly with customers or in field deployment roles - Knowledge of digital communications standards (e.g., CCSDS, DVB-S2X) - Experience integrating RF systems with FPGA or embedded p