Hey, I'm Ian Cleary, Senior RF Systems Engineer
I build spacecraft communications systems from mission requirements through architecture, modeling, test, and production. My work spans RF payloads, TT&C, mission-data links, inter-satellite links, tactical interfaces, and ground networks, backed by more than a decade of satellite communications experience at Viasat.
About Me
As an RF Engineer with over a decade of experience, I initially leveraged my University of Michigan and Arizona State degrees to build a strong academic technical foundation and principles to lean upon. On the job, I have learned quickly, pushed to get doing and absorb knowledge from practical experience and experimentation, all the while collaborating with talented peers to create, manufacture, and iterate.
Read moreWork Experience
Senior RF Systems Engineer
July 2026 - Present
Stealth Startup
Senior RF Engineering Lead
2024 - June 2026
Viasat
RF Systems Engineer
2018 - 2024
Viasat
RF Engineer
2013 - 2018
Viasat
Open engineering tools
Selected projects and reusable engineering tools.
Oct 29, 2025
Schematic Checking Tool Python Helper Library
Led the creation of a library to parse a SCT file, which are exported from Electrical Computer Aided Design software, such as Altium, Zuken, or KiCAD, and convert the netlist into a Pandas or Polars DataFrame. Resulted in more automated and accurate checking of as designed versus as released Interface Control Drawings. This is very helpful to export the interface symbols and their nets for tracing signals across boards with a high input output pin/net density.
Oct 20, 2025
Python Driver for Rigol 1054Z Oscilloscope
Led the creation of a Python VISA (USB and Ethernet) library to control Rigol DS1000z series oscilloscopes. This project was learning by doing with some home electronics prjects, utilizing cutting edge Python packaging, formatting, and linting tools. Designed with your maintenance in mind, no version conflicts or hard dependencies that will cause interfere with your test engineering project.
Sep 9, 2025
Gain Lineup Rust Crate
Designed and built core building blocks for Radio Frequency Gain Lineups, allowing a designer to model a lineup as code, as opposed to some bespoke untested Excel Spreadsheet.
Latest Articles
Recent articles from the site. For engineering notes and design records, browse my RFDs.
Feb 25, 2026 · 8 min read
Phased Array Fundamentals for Satellite Engineers
A practical primer on phased array beam steering, scan loss, grating lobes, and why hybrid architectures are winning in modern ground terminals.
Feb 24, 2026 · 10 min read
Rust for RF Engineering
Why Rust is a great fit for RF engineering tools, and a tour of open-source crates for conversions, touchstone files, gain lineups, and link budgets.
Feb 15, 2026 · 15 min read
How to Learn RF Engineering
An opinionated reading list and learning path for RF and satellite communications engineering — filtered through 11 years of actually doing it.