ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Antenna Design Phd Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Impulse Space

Lead Antenna Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA

$180K - $220K/yr

You will own the antenna design lifecycle from initial design inception through prototype and ... Master's Degree or PhD in wireless communications, antenna engineering, or related area of study ...

Impulse Space

Lead Antenna Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$108K - $143K/yr

You will own the antenna design lifecycle from initial design inception through prototype and ... Master's Degree or PhD in wireless communications, antenna engineering, or related area of study ...

Impulse Space

Lead Antenna Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$180K - $220K/yr

You will own the antenna design lifecycle from initial design inception through prototype and ... Master's Degree or PhD in wireless communications, antenna engineering, or related area of study ...

SpaceX

Antenna Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA

$145K - $175K/yr

... design PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with some research/thesis work on RF or antennas * Experience with RF systems including SIGINT, ELINT, radar ...

SpaceX

Antenna Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

... design PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with some research/thesis work on RF or antennas * Experience with RF systems including SIGINT, ELINT, radar ...

SpaceX

Sr. Antenna Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA

$160K - $225K/yr

... design PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with some research/thesis work on RF or antennas * Experience with RF systems including SIGINT, ELINT, radar ...

SpaceX

Sr. Antenna Engineer (Starship)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$225K/yr

... in antenna design/build/test and electromagnetic simulations PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with research/thesis work on RF or antennas

SpaceX

Sr. Antenna Engineer (Starship)

Hawthorne, CA

$225K/yr

... in antenna design/build/test and electromagnetic simulations PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with research/thesis work on RF or antennas

SpaceX

Principal Antenna Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$200K - $285K/yr

... design PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with some research/thesis work on RF or antennas * Experience with RF systems including SIGINT, ELINT, radar ...

SpaceX

Sr. Antenna Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$160K - $225K/yr

... design PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with some research/thesis work on RF or antennas * Experience with RF systems including SIGINT, ELINT, radar ...

SpaceX

Sr. Antenna Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA

$160K - $225K/yr

... design PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with some research/thesis work on RF or antennas * Experience with RF systems including SIGINT, ELINT, radar ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsAntenna Design Phd Jobs

Antenna Design Phd information

See salary details

$40.5K

$111.5K

$164.5K

How much do antenna design phd jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for antenna design phd in the United States is $111,500.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,000.00 and $139,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are common challenges faced by Antenna Design PhDs when transitioning from academia to industry roles?

Antenna Design PhDs often encounter challenges such as adapting to faster-paced project timelines and a greater emphasis on practical, cost-effective solutions compared to academia's theoretical focus. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—including RF engineers, hardware developers, and product managers—requires strong communication skills and the ability to balance innovation with real-world constraints. Understanding company-specific design tools, manufacturing limitations, and client requirements also becomes crucial for success in industrial settings.

What is the difference between Antenna Design Phd vs RF Engineer?

AspectAntenna Design PhdRF Engineer
Required CredentialsPhd in Electrical Engineering or related fieldBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or RF Engineering
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academia, R&D departmentsManufacturing, telecommunications, aerospace industries
Industry UsageDesigning antennas, research, academiaDeveloping RF systems, signal processing

While both roles involve RF principles, an Antenna Design Phd focuses on advanced research and development of antenna systems, often in academic or specialized R&D settings. An RF Engineer applies RF knowledge to practical system design and implementation in industry. The Phd role emphasizes research expertise, whereas the RF Engineer role centers on applied engineering tasks.

What does an Antenna Design PhD do?

An Antenna Design PhD is a professional who has completed advanced doctoral studies focusing on the theory, simulation, and practical development of antennas for various applications, including telecommunications, radar, and satellite systems. Their work often involves research into new antenna technologies, optimizing antenna performance, and solving complex electromagnetic problems. They may collaborate with engineers and scientists to design prototypes, conduct experiments, and publish research findings. Antenna Design PhDs are typically employed in academia, research institutes, and industries such as aerospace, defense, and wireless communications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Antenna Design PhD, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Antenna Design PhD, you need deep expertise in electromagnetics, RF engineering, and antenna theory, typically supported by a doctorate in electrical engineering or a related field. Proficiency with simulation tools like CST, HFSS, or COMSOL, and familiarity with measurement equipment are crucial, along with published research or patents in antenna design. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills distinguish top candidates, enabling them to explain complex concepts and collaborate effectively. These skills ensure innovative, reliable antenna solutions that advance wireless communications and meet industry or academic research goals.
More about Antenna Design Phd jobs
What cities are hiring for Antenna Design Phd jobs? Cities with the most Antenna Design Phd job openings:
What states have the most Antenna Design Phd jobs? States with the most job openings for Antenna Design Phd jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Antenna Design Phd jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Antenna Design Phd jobs are:
Antenna Design Phd jobs near you
Infographic showing various Antenna Design Phd job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $111,500 per year, or $53.6 per hour.

Lead Antenna Engineer

Impulse Space

Redondo Beach, CA

$180K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

Description
As the Lead Antenna Engineer at Impulse, your core responsibility will be to lead a team designing antenna systems for spacecraft communication systems and GNSS receivers. You will work with RF engineers, avionics hardware engineers, mechanical engineers, and others to develop performant and maintainable solutions. You will own the antenna design lifecycle from initial design inception through prototype and characterization and supporting the design on orbit.  

Responsibilities
  • Define antenna and feed network systems for low, medium, and high gain spacecraft antennas 
  • Lead a team of all-star responsible engineers working on passive and active antenna designs ranging from LEO to deep space 
  • Architect and implement engineering processes to streamline antenna development, verification, and successful production 
  • Drive 1GHz – 30GHz antenna designs from initial analysis to prototype and complete characterization 
  • Work closely with RF engineers and mechanical engineers to integrate antenna designs into RF front ends and vehicle structures 
  • Optimize antenna designs for power handling, volume and mass constraints, and radiation and thermal environments present on orbit 
  • Analyze real-world performance of antennas, debug antenna issues on completed vehicles, and investigate methods to improve vehicle radiated performance 
  • Support RF and avionics teams by performing EM simulations of PCBs and other vehicle structures for desense analysis 


Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or related field 
  • 5+ years experience in research or development of antennas 
  • Familiarity with 3D EM simulation tools such as CST, HFSS, COMSOL, or Cenos 
  • Experience analyzing antenna systems in the lab (s-parameters, isolation, radiation patterns, propagation effects, etc) 
  • Strong foundations in RF concepts such as impedance matching, s-parameters, microwave network analysis, and power handling 


Preferred Skills and Experience
  • Master’s Degree or PhD in wireless communications, antenna engineering, or related area of study. 
  • 2+ years of demonstrated experience working on lead roles on spacecraft or other high reliability antenna applications 
  • Experience designing high gain, circularly polarized antennas 
  • Experience doing RF system-level testing in the lab using equipment such as spectrum analyzers, power meters, oscilloscopes, and noise figure analyzers. 
  • Experience designing antenna hardware for launch vehicles, satellites or spacecraft 
  • System-level antenna design and placement experience for desense mitigation 
  • Experience working closely with mechanical and vehicle engineers to integrate antenna designs with brackets and other vehicle hardware 
  • Experience in a start-up or agile development environment 
  • Familiarity with Earth station antenna systems 

Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.  
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.