Microwave Engineer

Assured Space Access, Inc; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company matching

Paid time off

Professional development support

Relocation assistance considered

Job summary

Assured Space Access Technologies, Inc. in Irvine, CA is seeking a Microwave Engineer to design the passive and active microwave hardware for phased array and radar systems.

You will take structures from EM models through fabrication, focusing on loss, isolation, power handling, and manufacturability in a repair/overhaul environment. The role requires 7+ years of hands-on microwave design experience, strong S-parameters knowledge, and proficiency with HFSS/CST and ADS/AWR tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or physics with emphasis on applied electromagnetics and microwave engineering.
• 7+ years of hands-on microwave component and assembly design experience through at least 20 GHz, with exposure to 40 GHz designs.
• Strong command of transmission line theory, S-parameters, impedance matching, filter synthesis, and network analysis.
• Proficiency with 3D electromagnetic solvers such as HFSS or CST Microwave Studio, and with circuit simulators such as Keysight ADS or Cadence AWR Microwave Office.
• Hands-on vector network analyzer measurement skills, including multi-port calibration, de-embedding, and fixture design.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
• On-site work in Irvine, CA.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, and validate passive microwave structures including filters, diplexers, directional couplers, power dividers and combiners, transitions, and waveguide assemblies operating from 0.5 to 40 GHz.
• Design microwave transmission line structures, such as microstrip, stripline, grounded coplanar waveguide, and substrate-integrated waveguide, including impedance control, mode suppression, and loss budgeting on low-loss laminates.
• Perform 3D electromagnetic analysis using HFSS, CST Microwave Studio, or equivalent tools, and correlate simulated performance with measured S-parameters, identifying and resolving discrepancies.
• Develop high-power microwave designs with attention to peak and average power handling, thermal dissipation paths, breakdown and corona margin, and passive intermodulation performance.
• Design and integrate MMIC-based and hybrid microwave assemblies, including chip-and-wire layouts, bond-wire compensation, hermetic packaging, and cavity-resonance mitigation.
• Establish measurement approaches and test fixturing, including multi-port calibration, de-embedding, time-domain gating, and correlation between fixtured and in-situ results.
• Support fault isolation, rework, and requalification of microwave assemblies returned for repair and overhaul, and define repeatable, documented repair processes.
• Collaborate with antenna, RF, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers to close mechanical, thermal, and interface requirements early in the design cycle.
• Mentor junior engineers on microwave design fundamentals, measurement discipline, and troubleshooting methodology.
• Support technical reviews, risk assessments, and project documentation.
• Travel as needed to facilities, test ranges, or vendor sites for evaluations and integrations.

Skills

7+ years microwave design experience

Transmission line theory

S-parameters

Impedance matching

Filter synthesis

Network analysis

HFSS

CST Microwave Studio

Keysight ADS

Cadence AWR Microwave Office

Vector network analyzer measurements

Multi-port calibration

De-embedding

Fixture design

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

MS or PhD in EE/physics with microwave emphasis

Tools

HFSS

CST Microwave Studio

Keysight ADS

Cadence AWR Microwave Office

Job description

Assured Space Access Technologies, Inc. is a defense and engineering firm delivering phased array, radar, RF payload, and secure communications solutions to government and prime contractor customers. We are headquartered in Irvine, California.

Team: Engineering

Location: Irvine, CA (on-site)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Base Salary Range: $145,000 – $190,000 per year

Clearance: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. An active clearance is preferred.

Position Summary

As the Microwave Engineer, you will design the passive and active microwave hardware that our phased array and radar systems depend on: filters, couplers, combiners, transitions, waveguide assemblies, and packaged MMIC-based modules operating from 0.5 to 40 GHz. This role is deliberately component- and assembly-focused and complements our RF and antenna engineering staff. You will take structures from electromagnetic model through fabrication, measurement, and correlation, with particular attention to loss, isolation, power handling, and manufacturability in a repair and overhaul environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, and validate passive microwave structures including filters, diplexers, directional couplers, power dividers and combiners, transitions, and waveguide assemblies operating from 0.5 to 40 GHz.
• Design microwave transmission line structures, such as microstrip, stripline, grounded coplanar waveguide, and substrate-integrated waveguide, including impedance control, mode suppression, and loss budgeting on low-loss laminates.
• Perform 3D electromagnetic analysis using HFSS, CST Microwave Studio, or equivalent tools, and correlate simulated performance with measured S-parameters, identifying and resolving discrepancies.
• Develop high-power microwave designs with attention to peak and average power handling, thermal dissipation paths, breakdown and corona margin, and passive intermodulation performance.
• Design and integrate MMIC-based and hybrid microwave assemblies, including chip-and-wire layouts, bond-wire compensation, hermetic packaging, and cavity-resonance mitigation.
• Establish measurement approaches and test fixturing, including multi-port calibration, de-embedding, time-domain gating, and correlation between fixtured and in-situ results.
• Support fault isolation, rework, and requalification of microwave assemblies returned for repair and overhaul, and define repeatable, documented repair processes.
• Collaborate with antenna, RF, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers to close mechanical, thermal, and interface requirements early in the design cycle.
• Mentor junior engineers on microwave design fundamentals, measurement discipline, and troubleshooting methodology.
• Support technical reviews, risk assessments, and project documentation.
• Travel as needed to facilities, test ranges, or vendor sites for evaluations and integrations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or physics with emphasis on applied electromagnetics and microwave engineering.
• 7+ years of hands-on microwave component and assembly design experience through at least 20 GHz, with exposure to 40 GHz designs.
• Strong command of transmission line theory, S-parameters, impedance matching, filter synthesis, and network analysis.
• Proficiency with 3D electromagnetic solvers such as HFSS or CST Microwave Studio, and with circuit simulators such as Keysight ADS or Cadence AWR Microwave Office.
• Hands-on vector network analyzer measurement skills, including multi-port calibration, de-embedding, and fixture design.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills for technical collaboration and reporting.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to work on site in Irvine, CA.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in electrical engineering or physics with a microwave or applied electromagnetics emphasis.
• Experience with transmit/receive modules and AESA microwave packaging, including thermal and mechanical co-design.
• Experience with ferrite devices such as circulators and isolators, and with high-power waveguide components.
• Familiarity with additively manufactured RF structures, advanced substrate technologies, or low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC).
• Prior involvement in establishing repair and overhaul processes for complex RF subsystems.
• Active Secret or higher security clearance.

What we offer

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with company matching; and paid time off.
• Professional development support, including training and certifications relevant to your field.
• Relocation assistance considered case by case.
• Hands-on ownership of real scope in a growing defense technology company.

Equal Opportunity

Assured Space Access Technologies, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Compensation Range: $145K - $190K