Engineer RF Microwave Design 2

PDS Defense, Inc.; Camarillo (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

PDS Defense, Inc. in Camarillo is seeking an Engineer RF Microwave Design 2 to support Navy EW programs. The role is on-site at Pt Mugu, California, and involves RF hardware design, prototyping, testing, and software integration, collaborating with lead Navy engineers and other contractors.

The candidate will work with RF systems, contribute to system development, and ensure compliance with EMI/ EMC standards. Security clearance at Secret is required; Top Secret is preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience with RF systems and RF hardware design.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to work in a close team.
• U.S. citizen with a Secret clearance; background check required.
• On-site work at Navy development facilities; telework not available.

Responsibilities

• Follow USMC operational scenarios and RF performance requirements for new RF design.
• Review RF system requirements decomposed from USMC requirements.
• Assist with RF component specification and selections.
• Evaluate RF components using test benches and summarize results.
• Support chamber testing and documentation of RF block diagrams.
• Assist with RF switching hardware development and ATPs.
• Ensure MIL-STD-461/464 compliance and support data calls.

Skills

RF systems experience

Verbal & written communication

Team collaboration

RF design

Education

Bachelor's degree in science

Master's degree

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Engineering

Engineer RF Microwave Design 2 Camarillo, CA Posted: 6/24/2026

Job Description

Job ID#:

218703

Job Category:

Engineering

Position Type:

Associate - W2

Duration:

52

Shift:

1

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking an Engineer RF Microwave Design 2, in Camarillo, CA. Job ID#218703

Pay Rate: $69 - $74/hr

Job Description

Seeking an RF Engineer to support our Navy led team developing EW systems mainly for the USMC. This position will be on-site at Pt Mugu California. Team consists of lead Navy engineers and other contractors outside of NGC. This RF Engineering position would support more senior Navy RF engineers with the development of EW systems. System development would primarily focus on RF hardware design, prototyping and testing, with integration of software.

Responsibilities

• Follow USMC supplied operational scenarios, architecture framework (DoDAF), and RF performance requirements for developing a new system's RF design.
• Review the development of new system requirements (decomposed from the USMC operational requirements) in regards to RF performance.
• Assist with RF component requirement specifications, as needed.
• Research and recommend appropriate COTS or vendor developed RF components (transceivers, antennas, amplifiers, analog filters, switches, couplers, splitters, cables, etc.) for a new system based on RF performance requirements; size, weight, and power (SWAP) constraints; aircraft space limitations; existing aircraft antenna locations; etc.
• Review vendor simulations of candidate antenna performance based on aircraft location and anticipated operational use. Support senior RF engineers with the down select of the best candidate antennas for the system under development.
• Assist senior RF engineers with building an RF spread bench to test a new system's candidate RF components. Evaluate candidate COTS and vendor developed RF system components using the RF spread bench. Summarize test results.
• Support the chamber testing of a new system and/or its prototype.
• Assist with the generation and documentation of new systems' RF block diagrams.
• Assist the senior RF engineers with the development and evaluation of a new system's RF switching hardware (RF Circuit Card Assemblies (CCA's)).
• Support the down select of system RF components.
• Assist with the generation and maintenance of RF component Acceptance Test Procedures (ATPs). Conduct ATPs on RF components.
• Assist with the troubleshooting of RF system issues.
• Assist the senior RF engineers with ensuring system compliance with MIL-STD-461 (EMI) and MIL-STD-464 (EMC).
• Assist with system RF chamber testing.
• Collated required system RF data to enable an outside Navy competency to perform HERO, HERF, and HERP analyses.
• Investigate RF system safety concerns/issues.
• Assist a co-located Navy competency with RF threat technique evaluation, as needed.
• Support the use of key processes, such as the configuration management for RF system changes after the system baseline is established.
• Support test's evaluation of system RF performance in the lab and during flight test.
• Support the senior RF engineers with program sponsor data calls for RF technical data.

Basic Qualifications for RF Engineer

• 2 years with bachelor's in science; 1 Years with Masters; 0 years with PhD

US citizen with a Secret clearance

• Experience with RF systems
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work well in a close team environment
• NOT a teleworking position. Work in a Navy development facility.

Preferred Qualifications for RF Engineer

• Top Secret clearance
• Experience with RF component selection, RF system development, and RF test equipment
• Experience mitigating co-site RF interference
• Experience using mechanical and electrical drawings
• Knowledge of Electromagnetic Warfare principles
• Familiarity with aircraft RF safety
• Familiarity with Agile Development Methodology
• Familiarity with Atlassian software development and collaboration tool set (Jira, Confluence)
• Experience integrating RF systems with military aircraft
• Familiarity with referenced military standards

Job Requirements

Minimum Security Clearance

Secret

Military connected talent encouraged to apply.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit http://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/ or https://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled