Principal Radio Frequency Engineer

LeoLabs; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 260,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Job summary

LeoLabs in Menlo Park, California, seeks a Principal RF Engineer to lead the RF electronics for our next-generation radar systems, owning architecture, design, validation, and production. This hands-on leadership role targets an experienced engineer who mentors others and delivers robust hardware for demanding environments.

You will work with electrical, mechanical, embedded software, and manufacturing teams to move hardware from concept to deployment, performing RF budgets, lab

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• 12+ years of experience designing RF and microwave electronics.
• Deep understanding of RF system design, microwave circuit theory, and radar fundamentals.
• Proficiency with PCB design and RF simulation tools (ADS/CST).

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and development of RF subsystems for next-generation radar platforms.
• Design and analyze RF circuits including receivers, transmitters, amplifiers, filters, synthesis, and antenna interfaces.
• Develop system-level RF budgets, cascade analyses, and performance models.
• Drive RF PCB design from schematic capture through layout, bring-up, validation, and production release.
• Perform laboratory characterization, debugging, calibration, and performance optimization with RF test equipment.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, embedded software, and manufacturing engineers to integrate RF hardware into radar systems.
• Conduct technical design reviews and mentor RF engineers.
• Evaluate tradeoffs and define RF architecture for future radar platforms.
• Support manufacturing, field deployments, and root-cause investigations as products transition to production.

Skills

RF Design

Microwave Circuits

Altium Designer

ADS

CST

VNAs

Python

Security Clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (RF/Microwave)

Tools

Python

Altium Designer

ADS

CST

Job description

At LeoLabs, we’re building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions.

We’re not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations.

If you're looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here.

As a Principal RF Engineer, you will lead the development of the RF electronics that define the performance of our next-generation radar systems. You will own the most challenging RF design problems across multiple programs, from architecture and requirements through design, validation, and production. This is a hands-on technical leadership role for an experienced engineer who enjoys solving difficult problems, mentoring other engineers, and delivering robust hardware that performs in demanding environments.

You will work closely with electrical, mechanical, embedded software, manufacturing, and systems engineers to develop high-performance radar hardware from concept through deployment. This is a full-time, onsite position based in Menlo Park, California. Occasional travel may be required to support hardware integration and field activities.

You will be responsible for:

• Lead the architecture and development of RF subsystems for next-generation radar platforms
• Design and analyze RF circuits including receivers, transmitters, amplifiers, filters, frequency synthesis, and antenna interfaces
• Develop system-level RF budgets, cascade analyses, and performance models
• Drive RF PCB design from schematic capture through layout, bring-up, validation, and production release
• Perform laboratory characterization, debugging, calibration, and performance optimization using modern RF test equipment
• Work closely with electrical, mechanical, embedded software, and manufacturing engineers to integrate RF hardware into complete radar systems
• Conduct technical design reviews and provide mentorship to other RF engineers
• Evaluate technical tradeoffs and help define the RF architecture for future radar platforms
• Support manufacturing, field deployments, and root-cause investigations as products transition into production

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline
• 12+ years of experience designing RF and microwave electronics
• Deep understanding of RF system design, microwave circuit theory, and radar fundamentals
• Demonstrated experience designing complex RF PCBAs from concept through production
• Proficiency with Altium Designer or equivalent PCB design software
• Experience with RF simulation tools such as ADS and CST
• Strong laboratory skills using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, power meters, and related RF instrumentation
• Experience developing engineering tools and automation using Python
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. personnel security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in RF or microwave engineering
• Experience with phased arrays, antenna design, or beamforming systems
• Experience with RF calibration, metrology, and EMI/EMC mitigation
• Familiarity with PLM systems such as Arena
• Experience leading technical teams and mentoring engineers

Within 1 month, you’ll:

• Complete onboarding and become familiar with LeoLabs' radar architecture, development process, and RF design environment
• Build an understanding of current hardware programs and future product roadmap
• Begin contributing to ongoing RF design efforts and technical discussions

Within 3 months, you’ll:

• Take ownership of a major RF subsystem under active development
• Lead RF design reviews and guide key architectural decisions
• Drive laboratory validation and performance optimization of prototype hardware

Within 6 months, you’ll:

• Own the RF development of a next-generation radar subsystem from design through prototype validation
• Establish yourself as the technical authority for complex RF design challenges
• Mentor engineers across the RF & Electrical Engineering Team

Within 12 months, you’ll:

• Shape the RF architecture for future radar platforms
• Be recognized as a technical leader whose decisions influence hardware development across the organization

Compensation

Salary offers are based on a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, and location. The base salary range for this position $260,000 + bonus + stock options + benefits

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. More information regarding ITAR can be found at DDTC’s website