RF Systems Engineer - Hybrid

About the role

We’re looking for an RF Systems Engineer who can take ideas from the whiteboard to over-the-air in an innovative new sensing system. This role is all about bringing practical RF expertise to a small, agile team building hardware for the field.

You’ll be the cornerstone RF specialist on the team – setting the direction for how we design and integrate the radio frequency aspects of our product. You’ll make key technical decisions about antennas, RF front-ends, and wireless test strategies, helping turn rough concepts into robust, field-ready sensing systems. You’ll work side by side with a cross-functional group of hardware engineers (systems, mechanical, electrical), software engineers, ML specialists, and product strategists to ensure the RF components seamlessly enable the overall mission.

This isn’t an academic or purely lab-bound RF role, we need a doer who can quickly leverage off-the-shelf components, work with vendors on custom solutions when necessary, and get hands-on testing done in real environments. If you love the idea of building RF systems that have immediate real-world impact and you can thrive in an ambiguous, fast-paced setting, this role is for you.
This is a hybrid role based in Seattle (3 days/week in office).

What you'll do

• Design, integrate, and test RF subsystems for a sensor-driven hardware product, covering everything from antennas and RF front-end components to software-defined radios (SDRs). You’ll ensure the system’s RF chain effectively covers a broad spectrum (approximately 50 MHz up to 10 GHz) to meet mission needs.
• Rapidly prototype using off-the-shelf RF components (COTS) – selecting antennas, low-noise amplifiers, filters, and SDR hardware that let us quickly stand up functional systems. You’ll balance speed and pragmatism (using ready-made parts) with an eye toward refining or custom-designing components as the product matures.
• Work closely with external vendors and partners to specify and develop custom RF solutions when off-the-shelf options won’t suffice. This could include engaging an antenna design firm or component manufacturer – you’ll drive the technical requirements, oversee the design/build process, and validate that vendor deliverables meet our performance targets.
• Perform hands-on RF testing and field validation of the system. This means going beyond simulations and chamber tests – you’ll take equipment into real-world environments to characterize performance. You will use tools like spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, and SDR-based measurement setups (e.g. GNU Radio or other SDR platforms) to analyze signals, troubleshoot issues, and optimize the system’s RF performance on the fly.
• Collaborate with the mechanical and systems engineers to integrate RF components (antennas, cables, RF boards) into the overall hardware design. You’ll advise on things like antenna placement, grounding and shielding, and ensure that mechanical considerations (enclosures, mounts, materials) do not impede RF performance.
• Apply broad RF knowledge and practical know-how to solve unexpected problems in an ambiguous development environment. Whether it’s mitigating interference, improving an antenna’s bandwidth, or debugging a weak signal chain, you’ll draw on a wealth of rules-of-thumb and prior experience to keep the system effective and reliable under evolving requirements.
• Travel up to 20% as needed to test and demonstrate the system in the field, work with end-users or mission partners on RF performance, and coordinate with external manufacturers or test facilities.

What we look for

• An experienced RF engineer who has taken radio or wireless systems from concept through to field deployment – ideally in hands-on, resource-constrained projects where you had to improvise and iterate quickly.
• A hands-on problem solver who thrives on practical work more than theory. You’re as comfortable mounting an antenna on a vehicle and driving out to test range as you are running a simulation. You know when to rely on calculations and when to grab the equipment and just measure. In short, you prefer building and trying things in the real world to ensure they work.
• A collaborative teammate who communicates effectively and works well with other engineering disciplines. You can translate RF requirements to non-RF colleagues, and you appreciate that a successful product needs the RF elements to mesh with mechanical constraints, embedded processing, software, and user needs.
• A self-directed engineer who can define the RF game plan in a new project. You navigate ambiguity with ease, deciding when to use quick off-the-shelf fixes versus investing in custom designs. You take ownership of the RF domain, ensure it aligns with broader product goals, and maintain high standards for performance and reliability.

Must Have Qualifications 

• 5+ years of experience designing, building, and testing RF systems or wireless devices end-to-end (from initial design through deployment). You should have a track record of owning RF subsystems for real-world projects or products.
• Strong understanding of RF engineering fundamentals, including antenna design and propagation, impedance matching, RF filtering, low-noise amplification, and RF safety considerations. You can calculate link budgets, understand VSWR and S-parameters, and reason about how to get the best signal fidelity.
• Broad knowledge across frequency bands – familiarity with radio systems ranging from VHF/UHF through microwave (approximately 50 MHz to 10 GHz). You have practical insight into the challenges and quirks at different parts of the spectrum.
• Proficiency with RF test and measurement equipment, such as spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, power meters, signal generators, etc., and the ability to interpret their outputs to characterize and debug RF systems.
• Experience with software-defined radios (SDRs) and RF signal analysis tools. You have used platforms like GNU Radio, MATLAB/Simulink, or vendor-specific SDR frameworks to develop or test RF systems, and you’re comfortable with the software side of radio.
• Experience working with vendors or external partners on RF hardware development – for example, collaborating on a custom antenna or RF module design, providing specs and feedback, and validating the delivered hardware.
• Excellent communication skills – able to document designs and test results clearly, explain RF concepts or issues to non-specialists, and collaborate across teams to solve problems.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience in RF engineering).
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident (required due to the nature of the work).
• Based in the Seattle area or willing to relocate to Seattle for this hybrid role.

Nice to Haves

• Experience with antenna arrays and direction-finding techniques. If you have worked on beamforming, MIMO systems, or RF direction finding, those skills will be valuable as we explore advanced sensing capabilities.
• Familiarity with electromagnetic simulation tools (such as ANSYS HFSS, CST Microwave Studio, or similar) for antenna or RF component design and analysis. While we emphasize hands-on work, the ability to simulate and model complex RF problems is a plus.
• Knowledge of advanced signal processing for wireless communications or sensing (DSP algorithms, modulation/demodulation techniques, interference mitigation, etc.).
• Programming or scripting ability (Python, MATLAB, C++, etc.) to automate RF experiments, process large datasets from field tests, or even contribute to embedded code for controlling RF hardware.
• Cross-disciplinary engineering skills beyond RF – for instance, a bit of embedded systems know-how or familiarity with mechanical considerations (such as radome design or thermal impacts on RF components). This kind of breadth helps you collaborate and innovate effectively on a small team.
• Prior startup or small-team experience, or a clear desire to work in an early-stage, fast-paced environment where you may wear multiple hats.

What we offer

The salary range for this position is $150,000 - $195,000 + equity + 401K match. Within the range, individual pay is determined by experience, relevant education, and/or training.