RF Hardware Engineer

The RF Hardware Engineer will design, analyze, and develop advanced RF, microwave, and high-speed analog and digital hardware for spacecraft missions and RF payloads and instruments. The role supports work across the lifecycle, from early concepting through launch, with onsite responsibilities based in Laurel, MD.

Role Focus

• Design and develop RF, microwave, and high-speed analog and digital circuits and components for spaceflight applications.
• Model, simulate, and validate hardware performance across RF, microwave, and high-frequency domains.
• Support full development activities including conceptualization, trade studies, prototyping, flight hardware development, integration, and verification.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine RF, microwave, and high-frequency circuit designs with a reliability focus for spaceflight hardware.
• Run detailed circuit and system simulations to predict and optimize performance across relevant high-frequency domains.
• Create layouts for RF, microwave, and high-frequency lumped and distributed element circuits, including printed circuit boards with high-density digital and RF content.
• Perform circuit-level analysis to evaluate performance, identify issues, and recommend design improvements.
• Produce and maintain schematic drawings, test plans, test procedures, and comprehensive test reports.
• Collaborate with mission and spacecraft systems engineers, subsystem engineers, and project management through concept-to-launch lifecycle activities.
• Support technical concept design and requirements definition for RF payloads and instruments.
• Participate in technical reviews, including design reviews and readiness assessments, providing RF and high-frequency expertise.
• Assist with project budgets and schedules related to RF and hardware activities.
• Lead technical teams across the full development cycle from prototype design and testing through integration and verification.
• Guide and mentor team members on RF, microwave, high-speed analog, and digital hardware design best practices.
• Support spacecraft integration and test activities, including off-hours testing when required for spacecraft-level operations.
• Provide technical insight and status updates to support engagement with sponsors and stakeholders.
• Apply communications systems theory and RF theory to payloads, instruments, and associated hardware.
• Use microwave, electromagnetic, and high-speed digital tools and simulators to model, analyze, and validate designs.
• Perform RF characterization and measurements up to Ka-band and beyond for antennas, RF payloads, and instruments.
• Contribute to the design and development of radar systems, military satellite communications systems, sensors, and software-defined radio architectures.
• Document design approaches, analyses, and test results and contribute to external publications and technical reports.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent field).
• 7 or more years of recent, hands-on experience in RF, microwave, or high-frequency analog or digital hardware design.
• Spaceflight high-reliability hardware development experience from conceptual design through delivery.
• Detailed knowledge of discrete transistor-based circuit design, including test and analysis techniques.
• Strong understanding of RF, microwave, high-frequency analog, and digital circuit design principles.
• Experience using RF or high-frequency analog and digital CAD tools for circuit design and analysis.
• Proficiency in high-speed, RF, and high-density digital circuit layout and packaging.
• Ability to conduct circuit-level analysis to determine and optimize performance.
• Familiarity with communications systems theory and RF theory.
• Experience with microwave, electromagnetic, and high-speed digital tools and simulators such as ADS, HFSS, Genesys, FEKO, HyperLynx, and Ansys SIWave.
• Proficiency with layout and schematic capture tools such as Mentor and Altium.
• Experience with software-defined radios, antennas, RF characterization and measurements to Ka-band or beyond.
• Experience with radar systems design and military satellite communications systems and sensors.
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours for spacecraft-level testing for short periods.
• Ability and willingness to travel infrequently to customer or sponsor locations and spacecraft integration and test sites.
• Ability to obtain a Top Secret level security clearance, if required for project work.

Additional Skills and Qualifications

• PhD degree in Electrical Engineering with leadership experience in RF systems, payload, or instrument design.
• History of external publications related to RF, microwave, or high-speed digital hardware.
• Experience with lumped and distributed element design techniques using discrete or MMIC-based transistor technologies.
• Experience with RF payloads and RF instruments for spacecraft and spaceflight missions.
• Experience with payload and flight hardware development for spaceflight applications.
• Familiarity with electromagnetic theory and advanced RF concepts relevant to high-frequency systems.
• Experience working in highly collaborative, mission-driven engineering environments.
• Interest in contributing to national and scientific missions addressing critical technical challenges.

Tools and Technologies

• ADS
• HFSS
• Genesys
• FEKO
• HyperLynx
• Ansys SIWave
• Mentor
• Altium
• Software-defined radios

Work Environment

• Onsite role with some flexibility in working hours.
• Periods of flexible and off-hours work may be required to support spacecraft-level testing and integration activities.
• Occasional travel may be required to customer or sponsor locations and spacecraft integration and test sites.
• Regular use of advanced RF, microwave, electromagnetic, and high-speed digital design and simulation tools, plus schematic capture and PCB layout software.

Contract Details, Location, and Pay

• Job type: Contract to Hire.
• Location: Laurel, MD (onsite).
• Salary range: USD 100,000 - 160,000 per yearly.
• Pay range note: The pay range is listed as $100000.00 - $160000.00/hr, with eligibility requirements applying to some benefits based on job classification and length of employment.

Benefits

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 5, 2026.