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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.
Photography in Sedona, AZ
RF Wirebonds between an integrated circuit and microstrip transmission line
Photo taken from a friend's airplane
Stretchng and posing on a trip to Alaska
Professional Headshot
Photography in Sedona, AZ
RF Wirebonds between an integrated circuit and microstrip transmission line
Photo taken from a friend's airplane
Stretchng and posing on a trip to Alaska
Professional Headshot
Photography in Sedona, AZ
RF Wirebonds between an integrated circuit and microstrip transmission line
Photo taken from a friend's airplane
Stretchng and posing on a trip to Alaska
Professional Headshot
Photography in Sedona, AZ
RF Wirebonds between an integrated circuit and microstrip transmission line
Photo taken from a friend's airplane
Stretchng and posing on a trip to Alaska
Professional Headshot

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.

Work Experience

July 2026 - Present

Senior RF Systems Engineer

Stealth Startup

2024 - June 2026

Senior RF Engineering Lead

Viasat

2018 - 2024

RF Systems Engineer

Viasat

2013 - 2018

RF Engineer

Viasat

Latest Articles

Some of my recent thoughts

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.

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.

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.
Ian Cleary • © 2026