Design Engineer III

Ignite Human Capital; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ignite Human Capital is seeking an experienced RF Designer to lead the design, development, and validation of high-frequency circuits and systems for demanding applications including aerospace and medical products.

The ideal candidate will have 8+ years of RF/microwave design experience, a degree in Electrical Engineering, and strong customer interaction skills. Familiarity with RF test equipment and advanced PCB materials is essential.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in RF/microwave design.
• Strong understanding of transmission lines, impedance matching, S-parameters.
• Hands-on experience with RF test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF and microwave circuits including amplifiers, filters, mixers, and antennas.
• Perform schematic capture, simulation, and layout of high-frequency PCBs.
• Select and apply advanced RF materials.

Skills

RF circuit simulation and modeling

Signal integrity and power integrity analysis

PCB layout guidance for RF performance

Debugging and root cause analysis

Strong communication and customer interaction skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Keysight ADS

Ansys HFSS

Cadence AWR Microwave Office

VNA

spectrum analyzer

Job description

We are seeking an experiencedRF Designerto lead the design, development, and validation of high-frequency circuits and systems for demanding applications including aerospace, defense, industrial, and medical products. This role requires deep expertise in RF/microwave design, PCB materials, and system integration, along with the ability to work in a customer-facing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF and microwave circuits including amplifiers, filters, mixers, oscillators, and antennas
• Perform schematic capture, simulation, and layout of high-frequency PCBs
• Select and apply advanced RF materials (e.g., Rogers laminates such as RO4350B, RO4003C, RT/duroid series)
• Conduct RF simulation using tools such as:
  • Keysight ADS
  • Ansys HFSS
  • Cadence AWR Microwave Office
• Optimize impedance matching, signal integrity, and EMI/EMC performance
• Develop RF test plans and perform lab validation using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, and signal generators
• Collaborate with PCB layout, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to ensure design for manufacturability (DFM/DFA)
• Interface directly with customers to define requirements, present designs, and support technical reviews

Support prototype builds, troubleshooting, and production ramp-up

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
• 8+ years of experience in RF/microwave design
• Strong understanding of transmission lines, impedance matching, S-parameters, and EM theory
• Hands-on experience with RF test equipment (VNA, spectrum analyzer, power meters)
• Experience designing multilayer RF PCBs and working with controlled impedance structures
• Familiarity with high-frequency PCB materials and stack-up design

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with mmWave or high-frequency (>10 GHz) designs
• Knowledge of hermetic and high-reliability packaging techniques
• Experience with LTCC, hybrid circuits, or module-level RF design
• Familiarity with military and aerospace standards (MIL-STD, IPC Class 3)
• Experience designing for harsh environments (temperature, vibration, radiation)

Key Skills

• RF circuit simulation and modeling
• Signal integrity and power integrity analysis
• PCB layout guidance for RF performance
• Debugging and root cause analysis
• Strong communication and customer interaction skills

Due to ITAR and / or CUI compliance, this position requires candidates to be a U.S. Citizen.