Assistant Research Engineer (Radio Frequency & Sensing Systems)

umd; College Park (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maryland’s MATRIX Lab in California, MD seeks an Assistant Research Engineer (Radio Frequency & Sensing Systems) to advance RF-enabled communication and sensing for autonomous platforms. The role leads experimental work in the anechoic chamber, collaborating with faculty to translate circuit- and system-level expertise into deployable capabilities.

Candidates should have a strong background in RF/microwave systems and low-SWaP electronics, with interest in radar, wake-up

Qualifications

• Strong background in RF/microwave systems.
• Experience with antenna characterization and EMC testing is a plus.
• Ability to translate research into deployable platform capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead research activities in the MATRIX Lab anechoic chamber, including antenna characterization, RF system performance evaluation, radar cross-section measurement, EMC testing, and validation of payloads for autonomous platform integration.
• Develop low-SWaP RF sensing and communication architectures, including wake-up receivers, millimeter-wave transceivers, radar front-ends, and passive sensing approaches for deployment on autonomous platforms.

Skills

RF/microwave engineering

Sensing systems

Autonomous platforms

Job description

Job Description Summary

Organization's Summary Statement: The University of Maryland (UMD) Maryland Autonomous Technologies Research Innovation and eXploration Lab (MATRIX Lab) is an autonomous systems research, development, and education center operated by the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, located at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM) in St. Mary's County. The lab conducts cutting-edge research in autonomous technologies in partnership with federal sponsors including the U.S. Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR), Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), as well as leading defense industry partners. The Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland serves as a catalyst for high-quality research, innovation, and learning, preparing students to address 21st-century grand challenges in energy, environment, security, and human health. The Clark School is dedicated to transforming the engineering discipline, accelerating entrepreneurship, and converting research and learning into innovations that benefit society.

Position Overview: The Assistant Research Engineer (Radio Frequency & Sensing Systems) conducts applied and translational research at the intersection of RF/microwave engineering, multi-domain sensing, and autonomous systems integration at the MATRIX Lab. Reporting to Lab leadership and working in close collaboration with University of Maryland faculty, this position leads and supports the development of RF-enabled communication, sensing, and electronic warfare-resilient capabilities across the Lab's primary mission domains, with an emphasis on leveraging and advancing MATRIX's physical research infrastructure. The position is a full-time research appointment suited for a researcher with a strong background in RF/microwave systems, low size, weight, and power (SWaP) electronics, and defense-relevant sensing who seeks to translate circuit- and system-level expertise into deployable autonomous platform capabilities. Please note this position is located at the MATRIX Lab facilities in California, MD.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading research and experimental activities in the MATRIX Lab anechoic chamber, including antenna characterization, RF system performance evaluation, radar cross-section measurement, electromagnetic compatibility testing, and validation of communication and sensing payloads intended for autonomous platform integration.
• Developing and evaluating low-SWaP RF sensing and communication architectures, including wake-up receivers, millimeter-wave transceivers, radar front-ends, and passive or backscatter-based sensing systems, suitable for deployment on