# Senior Communications Payload Architect > Raydar · Long Beach, United States · Full-time · Posted 2026-10-15 **Salary:** USD 170,000–240,000 **Workplace:** on_site ## Description About the company Our client is an aerospace company. The role Raydar is recruiting for this role on behalf of our client. Serve as a senior individual contributor responsible for the overall technical design of a satellite communications payload. Set technical direction, manage supplier relationships and steer the development roadmap, working alongside executives, sales and hardware engineers. What you'll do \- Own the top-level payload design, including link and power analysis and projections of how performance will improve as technologies mature. \- Oversee current and prospective suppliers and guide them in creating new RF components that can be built at volume. \- Run the payload research and development effort, weighing technology maturity against delivery schedules so the team can commit to performance targets. \- Spot constraints along the RF signal chain and focus engineering effort on the issues most likely to cause knock-on performance problems. \- Set up the qualification testing approach, with clear requirements and milestones, before production begins. \- Partner with leadership, sales, hardware engineers and suppliers to keep the payload work on track from both a technical and a business standpoint. ## Requirements What we're looking for \- 7 to 15 years of experience in satellite communications engineering. \- A track record of leading the architecture of several communications payloads through every phase from early concept to operation in orbit. \- A bachelor's degree in Electrical, RF or Communications Engineering. \- Thorough command of both analog and digital payload design. \- Comfort making architectural calls independently while working with both engineering and business partners. \- Eligibility under U.S. export control rules (U.S. citizen or green card holder). \- Ability to work on-site five days a week. Bonus points \- Background at a large satellite manufacturer. \- Experience leading technology trade studies and choosing suppliers and subsystems. \- A master's degree or PhD in Electrical or RF Engineering. \- Skill at turning customer needs into a complete payload design and weighing system-level options. \- Wide familiarity with payload subsystems and how they connect and come together. ## Benefits Compensation and benefits \- Base salary: USD 170,000 to 240,000 per year \- Equity Location and work model \- Long Beach, CA, United States \- On-site, 5 days per week in office \- Full-time ## Apply [Apply at Raydar](https://apply.workable.com/raydar/j/839A67E7DB/apply) --- Powered by [Workable](https://www.workable.com)