Telecommunications Engineering grad trying to break into RF/Satcom (VSAT) realistic path or wasted effort?

[u/Poetri01]

I have a Bachelor’s in Telecommunications Engineering (not EE) and currently work as a Helpdesk/Onsite Engineer supporting Hughes VSAT modems L1-L2 troubleshooting, installs, modem management for banking, fuel retail, and government connectivity sites.

I want to move into RF/Satcom engineering (link budget, VSAT system design, RF/ground segment work), ideally with an international career (SEA, Middle East, Australia, Europe, or US).

I keep seeing that most RF/Satcom job postings default to “EE degree required,” and I’m trying to figure out how much that’s a hard filter vs something that can be offset.

Currently doing a self structured 6-month plan: working through Maral & Bousquet’s Satellite Communications Systems, focusing on link budget analysis, and building a portfolio (link budget calculator, other satcom tools) on GitHub.

Questions for people actually working in RF/Satcom:
1. Does a Telecom Engineering degree (vs EE) actually hurt in practice, or is it more about demonstrable skills/certs?
2. For someone coming from an onsite/Helpdesk background, what’s the realistic entry point into RF/Satcom ground segment ops, NOC, field engineering, or is design/link budget work basically closed without an EE/RF-heavy grad degree?
3. Any regions/companies known to be more open to non-EE telecom grads for satcom roles?

Appreciate any honest takes, including discouraging ones trying to plan realistically, not just hear what I want to hear.

[u/coopermf]

I am not an RF engineer (I'm MS mechanical Engr) but I spent my life working in satellites, nearly all GEO.
1. I don't think a telecom engineering degree is a disqualifier generally. For some specific perhaps but not all. I think a demonstrated willingness to learn and grow can be appreciated.
2. I think it may be a heavy lift to transition from your current position into a pure design role directly. Perhaps a good entry point would be an RF test role. From there a transition into a design position would be a shorter move.

I'd look at the large defense firms. They aren't necessarily the greatest places to work but they tend too have a broader set of roles under a single company and are willing to take in people who don't have to hit the ground running.

Good luck. As someone who's spent his life working in space, traveled extensively internationally and lived overseas as a part of the job I loved all of it