Head of RF Engineering: High-Power Systems & Phased Arrays

D24 Search Limited; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Head of RF Engineering role in Hawthorne, CA, seeking a hands-on RF systems engineer with 5–12 years’ experience to own the architecture of a next-generation directed energy system for drone defense.

You will build, not just lead, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, simulate, and deliver a scalable RF chain with GaN amplifiers, phased arrays, and antennas.

Join a fast-moving, on-site engineering culture that rewards first-principles thinking and practical ownership of hardware.

Qualifications

• Extensive RF design experience through DFM and production.
• Hands-on contributor in RF systems, antennas, MMIC or electromagnetics.
• Deep experience with high-power RF and metal analog RF.
• Experience designing clean-sheet RF architectures through DFM into production.
• 5–12 years of RF engineer experience.
• Experience with phased arrays.
• Ability to use RF lab equipment including a signal generator and VNA.
• Ability to think from first principles.

Responsibilities

• Finish and validate the V01 RF lineup within ~60 days.
• Own and evolve RF system architecture end-to-end (drivers, GaN amplifiers, phased array antennas).
• Hands-on design work including antenna design and HFSS simulations.
• Run lab work with VNAs, signal generators and anechoic chamber testing; solve high-power RF/EMI/EMC problems.
• Collaborate daily with electrical, mechanical and power electronics engineers to keep interfaces current.

Skills

DFM to production

RF system design

Antenna systems

MMIC design

Electromagnetics

High-power RF

Phased arrays

RF lab equipment

First principles

Tools

Signal generator

Vector Network Analyzer

Job description

Head of RF Engineering role in Hawthorne, CA, seeking a hands-on RF systems engineer with 5–12 years’ experience to own the architecture of a next-generation directed energy system for drone defense.

You will build, not just lead, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, simulate, and deliver a scalable RF chain with GaN amplifiers, phased arrays, and antennas.

Join a fast-moving, on-site engineering culture that rewards first-principles thinking and practical ownership of hardware.