Radio Frequency (RF) Systems - Electrical Engineer
Austin, TX
Full Time
Mid Level
ABOUT THE ROLE
We're looking for an RF Engineer to design, optimize, and deploy advanced radio systems that support our autonomy and airspace intelligence platform. This role sits at the intersection of hardware, signal processing, and real-world deployment.
You'll own antenna design and RF performance across our systems, while also contributing to next-generation capabilities in passive RF-based drone detection and tracking. This is not a pure research role — you'll be expected to build, test, iterate, and ship hardware that performs in the field.
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING
- Design, prototype, and optimize RF systems for airborne and ground-based platforms
- Develop, tune, and validate antenna systems (custom and off-the-shelf) for performance, range, and reliability
- Conduct RF testing, measurement, and analysis (VNA, spectrum analyzer, SDRs, etc.)
- Improve signal integrity, reduce noise/interference, and optimize system-level RF performance
- Design and iterate on in-house antenna solutions (patch, dipole, phased arrays, etc.)
- Build and test RF pipelines for passive detection and classification of wireless emitters
- Develop and implement techniques for RF-based localization and triangulation
- Work with SDR platforms to capture, process, and analyze RF signals in real time
- Collaborate with software and autonomy teams to integrate RF data into higher-level systems
- Support field testing and deployment, including debugging real-world RF issues
- Contribute to hardware architecture decisions across communications and sensing systems
Required
- Strong fundamentals in RF engineering, electromagnetics, and antenna theory
- Hands-on experience with RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, VNAs, signal generators)
- Experience designing, tuning, or modifying antennas
- Solid understanding of signal propagation, interference, and link budgets
- Experience working with SDRs (e.g., USRP, HackRF, BladeRF, etc.)
- Familiarity with RF signal processing concepts (filtering, modulation, detection)
- Experience debugging real-world RF systems
- Ability to prototype and iterate quickly in a lab environment
- Experience with RF-based localization / triangulation techniques (TDOA, RSSI, AoA, etc.)
- Background in passive RF sensing or spectrum monitoring
- Experience with drone communication protocols and RF signatures
- Familiarity with embedded systems or firmware (C/C++ or similar)
- Experience designing RF systems for harsh or dynamic environments (e.g., airborne systems)
- Knowledge of regulatory constraints (FCC, spectrum compliance)
- Exposure to phased arrays or beamforming systems
HARDWARE / RF
Custom antennas, SDR platforms, RF test equipment
PROCESSING
Real-time signal processing pipelines
SYSTEMS
Integrated with autonomy, telemetry, and distributed infrastructure
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We need someone who identifies problems, owns them end-to-end, and drives solutions into production.
You'll excel in this role if you: • Think in terms of systems, not components • Can take a vague problem and turn it into a working solution • Are comfortable moving between theory, lab work, and field deployment • Bias toward building and testing over excessive modeling • Thrive in fast iteration cycles with real-world constraints • Want to push the boundaries of RF-based sensing and detection
BENEFITS
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: 100% of premiums covered for employees, 80% for dependents
- Compensation: Competitive salary with performance-based bonuses
- Equity: Stock options offering real ownership in what you're building
- Retirement: 401(k) plan
- Insurance: Life, short-term, and long-term disability coverage
Perks: Free daily lunch and dinner, with snacks and drinks stocked in the office
Apply for this position
Required*