Applications Engineer (Aerospace, Defense, & Semiconductor)

Arena Family of Companies; California; On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Flexible schedule

Career growth into Senior Applications

On-site in Ontario, CA

Global exposure

Job summary

Arena Family of Companies is seeking an Applications Engineer to act as a technical resource for customers, sales, engineering, and management, applying RF/microwave measurement expertise to solve complex challenges. You will understand measurement requirements, recommend hardware and software solutions, support demonstrations and training, and help develop customer-specific technical solutions.

On-site in Ontario, CA, you will work with modern RF and microwave test equipment and collaborate

Qualifications

• Master’s in Electrical/RF/Microwave Engineering or equivalent professional RF/microwave experience.
• Strong knowledge of microwave theory, S-parameters, RF measurement, solid-state devices, PA design, and Source/Load Pull.
• Hands-on experience with RF/microwave test equipment and instrumentation.
• Experience with coding, scripting, instrument programming, or test automation.
• Strong customer-facing communication, presentation, demonstration, and training skills.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen, work on-site in Ontario, CA, and become productive within ~3 months.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for RF/microwave measurement, device characterization, and customer solutions.
• Troubleshoot complex measurement challenges and recommend hardware, software, and test solutions.
• Support product demos, presentations, installations, and customer training.
• Develop and troubleshoot instrument drivers, test software, automation, and measurement solutions.
• Work with VNAs, spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, RF sources, and Source/Load Pull systems.
• Travel up to 25%, primarily domestic.

Skills

Microwave theory

S-parameters

RF measurement

PA design

Source/Load Pull

Customer-facing communication

Training & demonstrations

Education

Master's in Electrical/RF/Microwave Engineering

Tools

VNAs

Spectrum analyzers

Vector signal analyzers

RF signal generators

Microwave signal sources

Source/Load Pull systems

Job description

Join an established global leader in RF, microwave, and advanced measurement technology, with decades of industry expertise supporting some of the world's most demanding technology markets. The organization serves leading companies across aerospace and defense, semiconductor, wireless communications, satellite, and advanced research, providing highly specialized solutions that enable innovation in critical applications.

As an Applications Engineer, you'll serve as a technical resource for customers, sales, engineering, and management, applying your expertise in RF and microwave measurement, device characterization, and test and measurement technology to solve complex technical challenges.

You'll work directly with customers to understand their measurement requirements, recommend hardware and software solutions, support product demonstrations and training, troubleshoot measurement challenges, and help develop customer-specific technical solutions.

Why This Role?

• Competitive Compensation: Plus individual performance and company profit-based bonus opportunities.
• Flexible Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday, with flexibility around start and end times.
• Career Growth: Opportunity to progress into a Senior Applications Engineer role as technical expertise, customer responsibility, and performance develop.
• Established & Respected Company: Join a global organization with decades of experience in RF, microwave, test and measurement, and advanced measurement technology.
• Advanced Technology: Work with sophisticated RF and microwave measurement systems supporting semiconductor, aerospace and defense, wireless communications, satellite, and advanced research applications.
• Technical Depth: Develop hands-on expertise in microwave network theory, device characterization, Source/Load Pull, power amplifier characterization, RF measurement, and advanced test and measurement systems.
• Customer-Facing Engineering: Work directly with customers to understand technical challenges, recommend solutions, conduct demonstrations, provide training, and support installations.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Partner closely with sales, engineering, product development, technical SMEs, and management to develop complete technical solutions.
• Strategic Customer Relationships: Support technically sophisticated customers and become a trusted technical resource for advanced RF and microwave measurement applications.
• Global Exposure: Support domestic customers, up to approximately 25%.
• Technical Growth: Expand your expertise across RF/microwave measurement, semiconductor device characterization, test automation, instrumentation, software, and measurement science.
• Hands-On Technology: Work directly with modern RF and microwave test equipment, including VNAs, spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, RF signal generators, microwave signal sources, and Source/Load Pull systems.
• Engineering + Customer Interaction: This is not simply an internal engineering position. You'll combine technical engineering expertise with customer communication, presentations, demonstrations, training, and technical problem-solving.
• Autonomy & Ownership: Take ownership of customer technical issues, measurement challenges, product validation, and application-specific solutions.
• Fast Ramp-Up: The expectation is that the successful candidate will become productive and independently contributing within approximately three months.
• On-Site Collaboration: Work on-site in Ontario, California, collaborating directly with engineering, sales, and other technical personnel.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide technical support for RF/microwave measurement, device characterization, and customer solutions.
• Troubleshoot complex measurement challenges and recommend hardware, software, and test solutions.
• Support product demos, presentations, installations, and customer training.
• Develop and troubleshoot instrument drivers, test software, automation, and measurement solutions.
• Work with VNAs, spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, RF sources, and Source/Load Pull systems.
• Travel up to 25%, primarily domestic.

What You’ll Bring:

• Master’s in Electrical/RF/Microwave Engineering or equivalent professional RF/microwave experience.
• Strong knowledge of microwave theory, S-parameters, RF measurement, solid-state devices, PA design, and Source/Load Pull.
• Hands-on experience with RF/microwave test equipment and instrumentation.
• Experience with coding, scripting, instrument programming, or test automation.
• Strong customer-facing communication, presentation, demonstration, and training skills.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen, work on-site, and become independently productive within approximately 3 months.