RF and Communications Engineer

TelebortiX; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 8,000,000; Full time

Job summary

TeleBortiX in Bengaluru seeks an experienced EMC/RF engineer to own the electromagnetic and communications architecture of aircraft platforms. You will determine antenna placement, manage latency budgets, and oversee from budget to flight test and measured characterisation.

This role combines full‑wave simulation with hands‑on bench and flight data, including GNSS and RF link budget work, harness design, and regulatory compliance through DO‑160G.

Qualifications

• Co-site and platform-level interference analysis: justify isolation figures and design changes.
• Full-wave EM simulation on large models using Altair Feko, HFSS, or CST.
• Radio link budget to flight test with measured characterisation curves.
• Proficient with RTCA DO-160G sections 15–23 and MIL-STD-461F/G.
• Practical measurement: spectrum analyser, VNA, probes, LISN, fault isolation.

Responsibilities

• Platform EMC integration: emitter–receptor matrix across transmitters and receivers.
• Installed antenna performance: GNSS gain, axial ratio, multipath.
• GNSS interference budget: HVDC and inverter noise assessment.
• Harness, shielding, bonding and grounding architecture and isolation strategies.
• Compliance: DO-160G tests and data package for DGCA scrutiny.
• Link engineering: budgets for RF links with measurement support.
• Flight test: campaign design and execution with various profiles.
• Antenna design or modification on composite structures and VNA characterisation.

Skills

Interference analysis

EM simulation

Radio link testing

Compliance campaign

Measurement capability

Tools

Altair Feko

HFSS with EMIT

CST Studio Suite

VNA

Spectrum analyser

Job description

This role owns the electromagnetic and communications architecture of our aircraft end to end, across production airframes and the flying laboratories that support them. Our platforms are demanding electromagnetic environments by construction: distributed inverters switching onto high-voltage DC buses, long HV harness runs through composite structure that offers no useful ground plane, and the GNSS antenna, C2 datalink, telemetry radio, transponder and ADS-B receiver all located within a few metres of those sources.

You determine antenna placement and substantiate it with pattern data. You set the isolation requirements and defend the figures. You select the radio stack, own the latency budget through it, and take each link from budget through flight test to measured characterisation. The role combines full-wave simulation with hands-on bench and flight measurement, and carries the authority to reroute harnesses, relocate antennas and specify filters.

Key responsibilities

• Platform EMC integration: emitter–receptor matrix across all transmitters (fundamental, harmonics to the fifth, spurious mask) and receivers (sensitivity, selectivity, blocking, damage threshold); antenna isolation matrix with simulated S21 per pair validated by measurement, carrying required-isolation and margin columns; I/N margin tables against a stated criterion; third-order intermodulation mapped onto the frequency plan.


• Installed antenna performance: azimuth and elevation gain contours as mounted on the airframe. For GNSS, gain above 5–10° elevation, axial ratio, and multipath with rotors turning.


• GNSS interference budget: HVDC and inverter broadband noise assessed against RTCA DO-235B at L1 and L5. Typically the first deliverable and the highest-risk item on the programme.


• Harness, shielding, bonding and grounding architecture, including common-mode current control on the HV bus, routing and segregation, and shield termination strategy.


• Compliance: DO-160G Sections 15–23 test plan, pre-compliance strategy, laboratory selection, and campaign management through to a data package that withstands DGCA scrutiny.


• Link engineering: link budgets for every RF link — EIRP, path loss, fade margin, noise figure, implementation loss, sensitivity per MCS — supported by measurement: goodput against range, PER against SNR, in-flight MCS distribution, retransmission rate, glass-to-glass latency and jitter.


• Flight test: campaign design and execution, covering radial and orbit profiles, null mapping at bank and pitch attitudes, terrain and multipath cases, and spectrum occupancy logging.


• Antennas: selection, modification or ground-up design where COTS will not meet the installed requirement — patch, monopole, blade and conformal elements on composite structure, including ground plane synthesis. In-house prototyping and VNA characterisation, with chamber validation through partner laboratories.


• Radio stack: evaluation and selection across COTS MIMO/MANET radios (Doodle Labs, Silvus, Microhard), injection-mode Wi-Fi (WFB-NG, OpenIPC, Ruby FPV), and SDR-based cellular (srsRAN, OpenAirInterface on AD9361 or Zynq RFSoC). Ownership of the end-to-end latency budget, adaptive rate and diversity strategy, encoder selection, MAVLink and C2 multiplexing, and link-loss behaviour. An architecture and integration role, not a PHY implementation role.


• Link security: a documented threat model for the C2 and payload links; integration of established primitives (AES-256-GCM, X25519, authenticated framing) with correct nonce and anti-replay handling; key provisioning, pairing, rekeying, revocation and secure element integration. Peer-reviewed primitives only; in-house cryptographic design is out of scope.


• Spectrum and regulatory: band selection, WPC and SACFA coordination, coexistence with the operating environment, and the export and regulatory dimension of encrypted airborne links in the Indian context.


• Design interface and vendor management: manufacturability and installation feedback to the airframe, powertrain and avionics teams while geometry can still change; routing of work between in-house facilities and accredited partner laboratories.

Requirements

Candidates should meet four of the six criteria below to apply.

• Co-site and platform-level interference analysis: you have set isolation requirements on an integrated platform and can explain how the figures were derived and what design changes followed.


• Full-wave EM simulation on electrically large models — Altair Feko (MoM/MLFMM), Ansys HFSS with EMIT, or CST Studio Suite. Feko with WRAP is of particular interest.


• A radio link taken from budget through flight test, with measured characterisation curves rather than range anecdotes.


• Working command of RTCA DO-160G Sections 15–23 and/or MIL-STD-461F/G, including running or managing a compliance campaign.


• Practical measurement capability: spectrum analyser, VNA, near-field and current probes, LISN, and efficient fault isolation on the bench.


• Demonstrated ownership: establishing measurement practice, compliance path and data discipline independently.

Note: candidates whose skills fall short of the criteria above may still apply if their interests are strongly aligned with TeleBortiX's vision. Please make the case in your application note.

Preferred

• GNSS interference and desensitisation — DO-235, receiver front-end behaviour, CRPA and anti-jam


• Power electronics EMI at source — SiC and GaN switching, common-mode paths, dv/dt control, HVDC filter design


• Antenna design and fabrication on composite structure


• SDR platforms (AD9361, ADRV9002, RFSoC) or open FPV link stacks


• Applied cryptographic integration in embedded systems; secure boot and secure elements


• iNARTE certified EMC Engineer or equivalent


• Prior UAS, UAM or eVTOL work, or DGCA, EASA or FAA certification programmes


• Results stated as numbers with uncertainties attached, and defended

Tools & standards

Altair Feko (MoM/MLFMM) and WRAP, or HFSS + EMIT / CST RTCA DO-160G Sections 15–23 MIL-STD-461F/G RTCA DO-235B spectrum analysers, VNAs, near-field and current probes, LISN chamber campaigns through partner laboratories SDR platforms and open link stacks MAVLink and C2 integration WPC / SACFA licensing AES-256-GCM, X25519, secure element provisioning.

Org structure

Reporting to the Chief Designer / Founder, working closely with the Powertrain Architect, Power Electronics Lead, Flight Control Lead, Design Engineers and Materials & Processes Lead. Custom PHY/MAC FPGA and DSP work, cryptographic primitive design and formal audit, accredited chamber testing, and certification liaison beyond the technical data package are resourced separately, under this role's direction.

Simulation licences, CAD geometry, the full electrical architecture, and laboratory time at NABL and DGAQA-accredited EMI/EMC facilities in Bengaluru. You will not be asked to sign off on anything you did not measure.

About TeleBortiX

We build state-of-the-art airborne systems. Our engineering team is small and multi-skilled. We hire for skills, not for job titles. Every engineer here owns one primary cluster and a credible secondary.

Location, compensation, and how to apply

Engagement: Retainer converting to full-time, or full-time from the outset

Compensation: Commensurate with experience; equity component negotiable