Lead C2 & RF/Nav Systems Engineer — UAS

Approach Venture LLC; Round Rock (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Approach Venture LLC in Round Rock, TX (onsite) is seeking a Lead Communications & Navigation Systems Engineer to own the aircraft's C2, RF, and GNSS/PNT subsystems from design through flight testing.

This hands-on leadership role requires coordinating across electrical, embedded software, flight controls, and mechanical teams, with travel ~25% to test facilities and customer sites, and U.S. citizenship for security clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in aerospace RF/communications or navigation systems.
• Hands-on experience with datalinks, RF hardware, and antenna integration.
• Strong GNSS performance understanding and interference awareness.
• Experience with RF test equipment and lab environments.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture, development, integration, and validation of aircraft communications, GNSS/PNT, and RF subsystems from design to flight testing.
• Develop RF link budgets and evaluate antenna selection, placement, and performance across the aircraft.
• Select and integrate radio and datalink systems, manage supplier relationships, and ensure hardware meets requirements.
• Develop resilient navigation architectures for GPS-denied, jammed, or spoofed environments.
• Conduct RF bench testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and flight test troubleshooting to resolve issues.
• Manage spectrum requirements, frequency coordination, and regulatory authorizations for tests.
• Lead EMI/EMC integration to ensure compatibility across avionics and onboard systems.
• Collaborate with flight software engineers to integrate protocols and maintain open architecture.
• Create interface control documents, verification plans, and technical docs for reviews and airworthiness.
• Support ground and flight testing, analyze performance, and drive hardware/software improvements.

Skills

Communications systems

RF engineering

Navigation systems

GNSS performance

Datalinks

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Vector network analyzers

Spectrum analyzers

Job description

Approach Venture LLC in Round Rock, TX (onsite) is seeking a Lead Communications & Navigation Systems Engineer to own the aircraft's C2, RF, and GNSS/PNT subsystems from design through flight testing.

This hands-on leadership role requires coordinating across electrical, embedded software, flight controls, and mechanical teams, with travel ~25% to test facilities and customer sites, and U.S. citizenship for security clearance.