RF Engineer II (R6053)

The role

You will design and mature RF and microwave hardware modules for airborne and ground systems. The work covers circuit design, PCB layout, lab verification and transition to production, with a focus on hands-on module design for the X-BAT autonomous aircraft program.

What you will do

• Design RF and microwave modules from requirements through production release
• Design active and passive RF circuits such as LNAs, power amplifiers, filters and switches
• Develop RF front-end assemblies that meet gain, noise, linearity and emission requirements
• Perform circuit and electromagnetic analysis and correlate models with measured performance
• Create and review RF and mixed-signal PCB designs with controlled impedance and shielding
• Plan and run lab characterization using network, spectrum and noise-figure analyzers
• Diagnose hardware issues such as instability, intermodulation, desense and thermal drift
• Integrate RF hardware with mechanical, thermal, avionics and test engineers
• Develop verification, production test and calibration methods with clear documentation
• Support qualification, supplier engagement, ground test and flight test as needed

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• 1 or more years of relevant post-undergraduate experience for L2, or 2 or more years for L3
• Hands-on experience designing, building or debugging an RF or microwave circuit, module or PCB through measured verification
• Solid understanding of S-parameters, impedance matching, transmission lines, stability, gain and noise figure, linearity, isolation and cascaded RF performance
• Experience creating or reviewing RF PCB layouts with controlled impedance, grounding, shielding and signal integrity
• Proficiency with common RF lab instruments and calibration methods
• Ability to use simulation and measured data to make design decisions and document tradeoffs
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and ability to work with cross-functional teams
• Ability to work on-site in a laboratory and hardware-development environment

Nice to have

• Experience with RF front ends for airborne, defense, space, robotics or other high-reliability systems
• Experience integrating GaN or GaAs power amplifiers, MMICs, LNAs, switches, limiters or frequency converters
• Experience with simultaneous transmit and receive, high-power RF, intermodulation control or co-site interference
• Experience with Altium Designer and RF or EM simulation tools such as ADS, AWR, HFSS or CST
• Working knowledge of thermal design, RF packaging, connector and cable interfaces, and design for manufacturability
• Experience with EMI and EMC design and qualification for military or aerospace hardware
• Experience developing automated characterization or data-analysis tools in Python, MATLAB or similar
• Experience transitioning RF hardware from prototype through qualification and low-rate production
• Ability to obtain an S//SAR level security clearance, if required by the program

Benefits

• Bonus
• Benefits
• Equity (full-time regular employees)
• Temporary benefits package, applicable after 60 days of employment (temporary employees)

Before you apply

• All offers are contingent on a cleared background check and possible reference check
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits
• An S//SAR level security clearance may be required by the program

About the company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company that builds intelligent systems to protect service members and civilians. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies.