Staff RF Engineer (R5991)

The role

This person will design and deliver compact, high-performance RF modules for airborne and ground systems. The work covers active and passive RF circuits, PCB assemblies, lab verification, and transition to production.

What you will do

• Own RF and microwave module designs from requirements through production release.
• Design active and passive RF circuits such as LNAs, power amplifiers, filters, switches and frequency-conversion stages.
• Develop RF front-end assemblies that meet gain, noise, power, linearity and emission requirements.
• Perform circuit and electromagnetic analysis and correlate models with measured performance.
• Create and review RF and mixed-signal PCB designs, including controlled-impedance routing and grounding.
• Plan and execute lab characterization using network, spectrum and noise-figure analyzers and other instruments.
• Diagnose hardware issues such as instability, oscillation, intermodulation and interference.
• Work with mechanical, thermal, avionics, antenna, manufacturing and test engineers to integrate RF hardware.
• Develop verification, production test, calibration and technical documentation.
• Support qualification, supplier engagements, integration, 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.
• Hands-on experience owning an RF or microwave circuit, module or PCB assembly through bring-up and measured verification.
• Strong understanding of S-parameters, impedance matching, transmission lines, stability, gain and noise figure, linearity, and isolation.
• 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 and document design decisions.
• 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 or limiters.
• Experience designing for simultaneous transmit and receive, high-power RF, or co-site interference.
• Experience with Altium Designer and RF or electromagnetic simulation tools such as ADS, AWR, HFSS or CST.
• Working knowledge of thermal design, RF packaging, tolerance analysis and design for manufacturability.
• Experience with EMI and EMC design and qualification for military or aerospace hardware.
• Experience developing automated characterization tools in Python, MATLAB or similar.
• Experience transitioning RF hardware from prototype through qualification and low-rate production.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance, including S/SAR access, 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 and possible reference check.
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.
• Pay depends on factors such as skill set, experience, licenses and certifications, and work location.

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.