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Senior RF Engineer

El Segundo, California

Company Description

At Icarus, we build solar-powered birds that fly at the edge of space for a very long time. Our mission is to dominate the stratosphere with autonomous platforms that deliver real-time intelligence and connectivity. This is not a place for spectators. We move fast, we test in Mojave at 4 in the morning, and we hold ourselves to an obsession with quality and speed. If you want to work on hardware that actually flies and flies where few machines can survive, this is the place.

 

Role Description

As a Senior RF Engineer, you will design, build, and test the communication backbone that makes stratospheric autonomy possible. From secure line-of-sight links to high-bandwidth beyond-line-of-sight relays, you will own RF systems end-to-end. You will architect radios, antennas, and waveforms, validate them in the lab, and then take them to Mojave for real-world flight.

This role is hands-on and fast-paced. You will:

  • Design and develop RF systems across UHF, L/S/C/X bands for ISR, comms relay, and SIGINT payloads.
  • Architect and integrate antennas (patch, array, conformal) into solar-powered airframes with strict SWaP constraints.
  • Develop and tune modems, SDRs, and link budgets for secure LOS and BLOS operations.
  • Own PCB layout, assembly, and validation for RF front-ends, filters, and amplifiers.
  • Lead EMI/EMC testing, spectrum analysis, and environmental qualification for flight hardware.
  • Debug and iterate rapidly between lab bench, anechoic chamber, and stratospheric flight tests.
  • Collaborate closely with avionics, power, and aero teams to deliver fully integrated flight systems.
  • Mentor junior engineers and set the technical bar for RF systems in the stratosphere.

No hand-holding. No fluff. No fake projects. Just raw engineering with flight on the line. You must thrive under pressure, figure things out without being told how, and push hardware to the limits. We expect results. We expect ownership.

If you want real responsibility, real hardware, and real flight milestones, this is it.

 

Key Characteristics We’re Looking For:

  • First Principles: Truth seeking from fundamentals
  • Mission Driven: Win or be forgotten
  • Relentless Iteration: Radical transparency & idea meritocracy

 

Compensation and Benefits:

  • $120,000 to $160,000 salary
  • Large equity in the company
  • Best-in-class healthcare, dental and vision plan, and HSA plan
  • PTO of 2 weeks to reset and recharge
  • World class office located in El Segundo, filled with the best talent in the industry
  • Your dream desk setup, including tools and whatever else you need to be your most productive self
  • Daily lunch and unlimited Celcius

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