What are the responsibilities and job description for the Communications Engineer position at Karman+?
Karman
We are inventors, designers, engineers, scientists, tinkerers, entrepreneurs, adventurers, artists, activists, global citizens, architects, musicians, builders, writers, athletes and space nerds. We partner with the best minds and most experienced teams across industry and academia, bringing together the knowledge, experience, and skills required to navigate our critical path.
Mission
We want to mine space resources from near-Earth asteroids to provide abundant, sustainable energy and resources in space and for Earth.
Vision
Asteroid mining has lived at the intersection of scientific research and popular culture for decades, with as many academic papers published as there are books, TV shows and movies about it.
Access to resources, with its finite nature and disparate distribution, plays an essential part in the geopolitical web of power and wealth. It has defined economic growth to such an extent that we have been using them as primary demarcation lines and identifiers in our history, from the stone to bronze and iron age to our current silicon age.
But our resources-driven growth faces a massive existential challenge, with climate change, ecosystem degradation and resource depletion demanding a complete reset. Humanity needs to shift global transportation, manufacturing, construction and energy onto a sustainable path.
Expanding beyond the Kármán line is where we believe transformative future growth and innovation will be found. Recent missions by NASA (OSIRIS-REx & DART) and JAXA (Hayabusa2) have firmly pushed the idea of using space resources from academic research into commercial opportunity.
We believe the Regolith Age, powered by abundant space resources, is an inevitability that we can accelerate.
We value these principles:
Location: Denver, CO
Position Type: Full-time
Mission: High Frontier – Design, Integrate, Test, and Deploy Spacecraft Communications
We're Karman , a lean and ambitious space startup with a mission to push the boundaries of in-space capabilities. Our High Frontier mission relies on a robust and resilient communications system to enable critical spacecraft-ground and interplanetary links. If you're an experienced communications or RF engineer with a passion for deep space systems and hands-on problem solving, this role offers the opportunity to take ownership of a vital subsystem and help shape the success of a bold space mission.
What it takes to be successful in this role:
As the responsible engineer for the Communications System, you'll take end-to-end ownership of the communications system for the High Frontier mission. From detailed design to final deployment, you'll be responsible for ensuring that our comms solution is rock-solid, mission-ready, and able to handle whatever space throws at it.
This is an individual contributor role focused on technical expertise and subsystem ownership. If you thrive on designing and integrating communications hardware, making autonomous engineering decisions, and diving deep into testing and troubleshooting, we'd love to talk to you.
Key Responsibilities
We Offer
Our cash compensation amount for this role is targeted at $90,000.00 - $130,000.00 annually in this location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amount listed above.
Top Benefits & Perks
As a member of the Karman team, you'll enjoy an impressive benefits package:
This position is full-time in-person at our offices & lab in Denver, CO. If you reside in locations outside of daily commuting distance you will be considered, however, no relocation or travel assistance will be provided by Karman for this position. This position operates in an office environment. This entails working inside in an office space wherein you may be provided with a public work station (cubicle) or private offices. In the performance of the duties and responsibilities of this job, you will be required to view a computer terminal for prolonged periods of time.
Travel
Occasional travel to work site locations may be expected. Overnight stays may be required from time to time for training, seminars, conferences, meetings, events, or visits to onsite locations.
Disclaimer
This job posting is not intended to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required. Karman reserves the right to change or assign additional duties, responsibilities, and activities at any time with or without notice.
Hiring Practices
Karman is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact hr@karmanplus.com.
Come work with us...
We are crazy ambitious but the timing is right. Be part of the team looking to make it happen.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a 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.
Follow us on LinkedIn to stay tuned on upcoming roles with Karman .
If you know someone who'd be a great addition to our team, please encourage them to apply for this role or for our General Application.
We are inventors, designers, engineers, scientists, tinkerers, entrepreneurs, adventurers, artists, activists, global citizens, architects, musicians, builders, writers, athletes and space nerds. We partner with the best minds and most experienced teams across industry and academia, bringing together the knowledge, experience, and skills required to navigate our critical path.
Mission
We want to mine space resources from near-Earth asteroids to provide abundant, sustainable energy and resources in space and for Earth.
Vision
Asteroid mining has lived at the intersection of scientific research and popular culture for decades, with as many academic papers published as there are books, TV shows and movies about it.
Access to resources, with its finite nature and disparate distribution, plays an essential part in the geopolitical web of power and wealth. It has defined economic growth to such an extent that we have been using them as primary demarcation lines and identifiers in our history, from the stone to bronze and iron age to our current silicon age.
But our resources-driven growth faces a massive existential challenge, with climate change, ecosystem degradation and resource depletion demanding a complete reset. Humanity needs to shift global transportation, manufacturing, construction and energy onto a sustainable path.
Expanding beyond the Kármán line is where we believe transformative future growth and innovation will be found. Recent missions by NASA (OSIRIS-REx & DART) and JAXA (Hayabusa2) have firmly pushed the idea of using space resources from academic research into commercial opportunity.
We believe the Regolith Age, powered by abundant space resources, is an inevitability that we can accelerate.
We value these principles:
- Diversity of thought. We believe that different perspectives drive better results. We aim to build diverse teams and a diverse company.
- Ownership, feedback and accountability. Ideas improve through collaboration, discussion and iteration. Decisions don't follow the same pattern and revert to the mean when made in a group. We aim to have clear ownership, accountability for results and autonomy to deliver.
- No silos. We build cross-functional teams to be able to deliver on our goals. There are no predefined lanes for people to operate in, information is pushed out across all teams to make sure we benefit from cross-pollination.
- High talent bar, no a**holes. We optimize for potential and a growth mindset. We value experience, but only when balanced with self-awareness and first principles thinking.
- Small is beautiful. The best results as well as the best work experience come from a small team of talented people working towards a common goal.
Location: Denver, CO
Position Type: Full-time
Mission: High Frontier – Design, Integrate, Test, and Deploy Spacecraft Communications
We're Karman , a lean and ambitious space startup with a mission to push the boundaries of in-space capabilities. Our High Frontier mission relies on a robust and resilient communications system to enable critical spacecraft-ground and interplanetary links. If you're an experienced communications or RF engineer with a passion for deep space systems and hands-on problem solving, this role offers the opportunity to take ownership of a vital subsystem and help shape the success of a bold space mission.
What it takes to be successful in this role:
As the responsible engineer for the Communications System, you'll take end-to-end ownership of the communications system for the High Frontier mission. From detailed design to final deployment, you'll be responsible for ensuring that our comms solution is rock-solid, mission-ready, and able to handle whatever space throws at it.
This is an individual contributor role focused on technical expertise and subsystem ownership. If you thrive on designing and integrating communications hardware, making autonomous engineering decisions, and diving deep into testing and troubleshooting, we'd love to talk to you.
Key Responsibilities
- Own every phase of the comms system lifecycle, from detailed design, to operational support for the spacecraft and ground systems, ensuring mission readiness and resilience.
- Lead the design, development, integration, testing, and deployment of the communications system and subsystems for interplanetary missions.
- Make autonomous technical decisions on system design, integration, and design trade-offs. Balance mission requirements with constraints on cost, schedule, and risk.
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex system issues, especially during integration and testing phases.
- Interface with other engineering teams (e.g., software, structures, systems engineering) to integrate the comms system seamlessly into the larger mission.
- Act as the main point of contact for comms-related topics, keeping all stakeholders aligned on system status and challenges.
- Oversee the procurement of critical components, work with vendors, and manage the supply chain for the comms system. Ensure all hardware and software meets mission specs and integrates smoothly.
- Maintain adherence to regulatory and operational standards for all comms system components.
- Ensure compliance with spectrum regulations, licensing requirements, and standards governing spacecraft communications.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation for designs, trade-off analyses, testing protocols, and troubleshooting procedures for knowledge continuity and future reference.
- Continuously evaluate and integrate emerging technologies and best practices to enhance the communications system's reliability, efficiency, and performance.
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
- Proficiency with industry-standard RF simulation and design software (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink, CST, HFSS).
- Hands-on experience in the design, integration, and deployment of complex comms systems—ideally including deep space comms systems.
- Expertise in RF engineering, modulation techniques, link budgets, signal integrity, and other comms essentials.
- Strong project management skills, including task prioritization, resource balancing, and progress tracking.
- Comfortable making autonomous decisions, balancing technical and operational needs to keep the mission on target.
- Hands-on approach—you're as comfortable in a design review as you are in a test lab.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate technical issues to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Foundational experience in communication or RF engineering for spacecraft applications.
- BS or MS in engineering, aerospace engineering, or related technical field.
We Offer
Our cash compensation amount for this role is targeted at $90,000.00 - $130,000.00 annually in this location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amount listed above.
Top Benefits & Perks
As a member of the Karman team, you'll enjoy an impressive benefits package:
- Equity Incentives - Participate in our shared success.
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans for top tier plans with additional buy-up plan options.
- Short-term Disability and Long-term Disability covered by Karman
- Basic Life Insurance covered by Karman
- 401k plan
- Unlimited Paid Time Off - We focus on what you get done, not how many hours or days you work.
This position is full-time in-person at our offices & lab in Denver, CO. If you reside in locations outside of daily commuting distance you will be considered, however, no relocation or travel assistance will be provided by Karman for this position. This position operates in an office environment. This entails working inside in an office space wherein you may be provided with a public work station (cubicle) or private offices. In the performance of the duties and responsibilities of this job, you will be required to view a computer terminal for prolonged periods of time.
Travel
Occasional travel to work site locations may be expected. Overnight stays may be required from time to time for training, seminars, conferences, meetings, events, or visits to onsite locations.
Disclaimer
This job posting is not intended to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required. Karman reserves the right to change or assign additional duties, responsibilities, and activities at any time with or without notice.
Hiring Practices
Karman is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact hr@karmanplus.com.
Come work with us...
We are crazy ambitious but the timing is right. Be part of the team looking to make it happen.
- We are looking to build things to put in space quickly.
- We emphasize creativity and innovation and resources are available to support good ideas.
- Join a team of people working toward the same ambitious goal.
- We are an engaging team looking to empower our teammates.
- You can have a share in the company value creation.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a 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.
Follow us on LinkedIn to stay tuned on upcoming roles with Karman .
If you know someone who'd be a great addition to our team, please encourage them to apply for this role or for our General Application.
Salary : $90,000 - $130,000
