Lead RF Engineer – Seeker Architecture & Flight Tests

Approach Venture LLC; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Approach Venture LLC in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Senior RF Engineer to own the radar seeker end-to-end for a next-generation interceptor. You will define the seeker architecture, perform make-vs-buy decisions, and lead RF test infrastructure.

The role collaborates with GNC, avionics, mechanics, and founders to move from bench to flight testing, with opportunities to hire and lead a dedicated seeker team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, aerospace, or related field.
• 6+ years radar system design, integration, or testing with subsystem ownership.
• Strong knowledge of radar physics, electromagnetics, noise figure, and phase noise.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python for real-time or embedded systems.
• Experience with FMCW, pulsed Doppler, or AESA tech and RF test equipment.
• US Person status and ability to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Define seeker architecture and lead make-vs-buy decisions on radar sensors and processing hardware.
• Own transmit/receive chain analysis, including link budgets, noise figure, and phase noise.
• Integrate antennas with the airframe and radome.
• Specify high-speed interfaces between seeker and avionics (ADCs, DACs, PCIe).
• Select and manage RF component suppliers and subsystems.
• Build low-latency detection and tracking pipelines (Doppler processing, CFAR).
• Develop clutter rejection and electronic countermeasure resilience.
• Oversee processing on flight processor (FPGA, GPU, embedded CPU).
• Own seeker-to-guidance interface and fuse radar tracks with IMU/GPS for terminal guidance.
• Design RF test rigs and run hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Skills

C++

Python

DSP

Radar physics

Embedded systems

RF testing

Education

Bachelor’s degree (EE/Physics/Aerospace)

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Spectrum analyzers

VNAs

Oscilloscopes

FPGA

Job description

Approach Venture LLC in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Senior RF Engineer to own the radar seeker end-to-end for a next-generation interceptor. You will define the seeker architecture, perform make-vs-buy decisions, and lead RF test infrastructure.

The role collaborates with GNC, avionics, mechanics, and founders to move from bench to flight testing, with opportunities to hire and lead a dedicated seeker team.