RF Hardware Engineer

Contract to Hire RF Hardware Engineer opportunity based onsite in Laurel, MD. This role focuses on designing and validating advanced RF, microwave, and high-speed analog and digital hardware for spacecraft missions, RF payloads, and RF instruments across the full development lifecycle, from concept through launch and integration. Work is supported by a dedicated engineering team and regular use of advanced simulation and design toolchains.

What you’ll do

• Design RF, microwave, and high-speed analog and digital circuits and components to meet spaceflight high-reliability expectations.
• Run detailed circuit and system simulations to predict and optimize performance across RF, microwave, and high-frequency domains.
• Create RF and high-frequency layouts for both lumped and distributed element circuits, including high-density digital and RF PCB content.
• Perform circuit-level analysis to assess performance, troubleshoot issues, and recommend design improvements.
• Develop and maintain schematic drawings, test plans, test procedures, and comprehensive test reports.
• Collaborate with mission, spacecraft, and subsystem engineers and project management from concept through launch.
• Support technical concept design and contribute to requirements definition for RF payloads and instruments.
• Participate in technical reviews such as design reviews and readiness assessments, providing expert RF and high-frequency input.
• Assist with project budgets and schedules tied to RF and hardware activity.
• Lead technical teams through development including trade studies, prototype design and testing, flight hardware development, integration, and verification.
• Guide and mentor team members on RF, microwave, high-speed analog, and digital best practices.
• Support spacecraft integration and test activities, including periods of off-hours testing when required.
• Provide technical insight and status updates to sponsors and stakeholders when supporting project/program management.
• Apply communications systems theory and RF theory to design and analysis for payloads, instruments, and related hardware.
• Use microwave, electromagnetic, and high-speed digital tools and simulators to model, analyze, and validate designs.
• Conduct RF characterization and measurements up to Ka-band and beyond, including evaluation of antennas and RF payloads/instruments.
• Contribute to radar systems, military satellite communications systems, sensors, and software-defined radio architectures.
• Document approaches, analyses, and test results for internal and external publications and technical reports.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent field).
• 7+ years of recent, hands-on experience in RF, microwave, or high-frequency analog or digital hardware design.
• Spaceflight high-reliability hardware experience from conceptual design through delivery.
• Detailed knowledge of discrete transistor-based circuit design, including test and analysis techniques.
• Strong foundation in RF, microwave, high-frequency analog, and digital circuit design principles.
• Experience with 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 using tools and simulators including 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, and RF characterization/measurements to Ka-band or beyond.
• Experience with radar systems design, military satellite communications systems, and sensors.
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours for spacecraft-level testing (short periods).
• Ability and willingness to travel infrequently to customer or sponsor locations and integration/test sites.
• Ability to obtain a Top Secret security clearance, if required.

Benefits

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with 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)

Tools you’ll use

• ADS, HFSS, Genesys, FEKO, HyperLynx, Ansys SIWave, Mentor, Altium

Pay range: $100,000 - $160,000 per year (contract to hire). The offered compensation depends on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other job-related factors. Anticipated closing date: Sep 28, 2026.