RF Engineer / RF Technician - Ground Control Station (m/f/d)

Stark Defence; Berlin; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

STARK is seeking an experienced RF Engineer to design, integrate and validate robust RF systems for military UAV platforms, delivering secure communications and electronic warfare capability in contested environments.

You will work with RF hardware such as SDRs, antennas, filters, LNAs, and power amplifiers, ensure system-level performance, and collaborate with mechanical and systems engineers to optimize SWaP and meet NATO standards.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical or RF Engineering or related field.
• Experience in RF systems design, ideally in defense or UAVs.
• Familiar with RF test equipment and RF design tools.
• Willing to travel within Europe and eligible for security clearance; fluent English; German a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, and validate robust RF systems for military UAVs.
• Select, design, integrate RF hardware (SDRs, antennas, LNAs, amplifiers).
• Define system-level requirements for RF performance and regulatory standards.
• Develop communication architectures for UAV command, telemetry, and data transfer.
• Support EW functions: detection, jamming, spoofing, RF hardening.
• Run RF simulations, link budgets, range modeling.
• Coordinate with mechanical and systems engineers on antenna placement and SWaP.
• Evaluate COTS and custom RF components for military use.
• Plan lab testing, range validation, and flight trials.
• Ensure compliance with NATO STANAGs and MIL standards.
• Contribute to safety, reliability and certification docs like SC-Light UAS where applicable.

Skills

RF design

UAV comms

Software-defined radios

Antenna integration

Military standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

VNAs

Spectrum analyzers

Signal generators

HFSS

CST

MATLAB

Job description

About Us

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.

We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems—not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe—today.

About the team

You will be working closely with the Commercial team.

Your mission

As an RF Engineer you will Design, integrate, and validate robust RF systems for military UAV platforms, delivering secure communications and electronic warfare capability in contested environments.

Responsibilities

• Select, design, and integrate RF hardware including SDRs, antennas, filters, LNAs, power amplifiers, and front-end modules
• Define system-level requirements and ensure RF systems meet performance, environmental, and regulatory standards
• Develop robust communication architectures for UAV command, control, telemetry, and payload data transfer
• Support the design and integration of electronic warfare functions such as signal detection, jamming, spoofing, and RF hardening
• Perform RF simulations, link budget calculations, and range performance modeling
• Work with mechanical and systems engineers on antenna placement, EMC/EMI mitigation, and SWaP optimization
• Evaluate and qualify COTS and custom RF components for use in military platforms
• Plan and execute lab testing, range validation, and flight trials of RF systems
• Ensure compliance with NATO STANAGs, MIL standards (e.g. MIL-STD-461, 464, 810), and relevant frequency allocation regulations
• Contribute to safety, reliability, and certification documentation, including SC-Light UAS or equivalent pathways where applicable

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related discipline
• Experience in RF systems design, ideally in aerospace, defense, or tactical communications
• Solid experience with software-defined radios, RF front-end design, and antenna system integration
• Knowledge of RF propagation, modulation schemes, spectral efficiency, and interference mitigation
• Familiar with RF test equipment (VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators) and RF design/simulation tools (e.g. HFSS, CST, MATLAB)
• Understanding of EMC/EMI principles and ruggedization of RF systems for harsh environments
• Familiarity with relevant military standards and NATO STANAGs for communication and EW systems
• Awareness of civil UAV certification requirements (e.g. SC-Light UAS) is a plus
• Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills
• Ability to travel to various testing sites in Europe when needed
• Eligible for security clearance (or already holds one)
• Fluent in English; German is beneficial, additional languages are a plus

Nice to have