Lead Hardware Engineer, Antenna Systems & RF

Northwoodspace; Torrance, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space is seeking a Lead Hardware Development Engineer to guide the antenna system from concept to deployment. You will own multidisciplinary hardware products spanning mechanical, RF, electronics, embedded software, and thermal domains, ensuring seamless integration and production readiness.

The role combines senior individual contributor work with cross-functional product leadership, requiring hands-on experience in hardware development, system integration, and rigorous verification

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, RF Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 3–5+ years of experience developing complex hardware, antenna systems, or multidisciplinary technology.
• Deep expertise in at least one engineering discipline (mechanical, electrical, RF, antenna, embedded, or systems integration).
• Experience owning a hardware product from design through deployment.
• Strong systems-thinking and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical development and execution of a Northwood antenna system or major subsystem from concept through production and deployment.
• Translate product, customer, and mission needs into system requirements, architectures, interfaces, performance budgets, and verification plans.
• Coordinate development across mechanical, electrical, RF, antenna, embedded software, thermal, manufacturing, test, supply chain, and field operations.
• Build and manage development schedules, technical milestones, critical-path dependencies, and risk-mitigation plans.
• Lead system-level trade studies across antenna performance, structural design, power, thermal behavior, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and deployment speed.
• Drive prototype builds, system integration, test campaigns, root-cause investigations, and production-readiness reviews.
• Contribute directly to design, analysis, prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting within your primary engineering discipline.
• Provide clear updates to engineering leadership on progress, risks, decisions, and resource needs.

Skills

RF hardware

Antenna engineering

Mechanical design

Embedded systems

Systems integration

Cross-functional leadership

Prototyping

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Master's in Engineering

Job description

Northwood Space is seeking a Lead Hardware Development Engineer to guide the antenna system from concept to deployment. You will own multidisciplinary hardware products spanning mechanical, RF, electronics, embedded software, and thermal domains, ensuring seamless integration and production readiness.

The role combines senior individual contributor work with cross-functional product leadership, requiring hands-on experience in hardware development, system integration, and rigorous verification