Principal RF Engineer, EW

Anduril-1; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 292,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries, a defense technology company, seeks an experienced RF Design Engineer to lead the development of complete RF receiver/transmitter chains for EW platforms. You will design architectures, optimize phase noise and spurs, and own PCBA development from schematic to production, with a path to manufacturing scale. A U.S.

Secret clearance is required. The role emphasizes hands-on circuit design, high-speed data converters, and integration with RF front ends, with collaboration across

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in RF design and product development.
• Experience designing complete RF receiver/transmitter signal chains and arch trade-off studies.
• Experience with discrete RF components (LNAs, filters, mixers, PLLs, oscillators).
• Experience with high-speed data converters (ADC/DAC).
• Experience with synthesizer/LO design and phase-noise analysis.
• Experience with schematic capture, board bring-up, test, optimization.
• Proficient with RF test equipment (VNAs, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes).
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop complete RF radio architectures from requirements through production.
• Architect RF up/down-conversion signal chains and optimize noise/distortion/dynamic range.
• Modeling, simulation, analysis, design, test, and optimization of RF/mixed-signal circuits.
• Select and integrate high-speed data converters and baseband interfaces.
• Design and optimize clock trees and LO/synthesizer architectures with phase noise focus.
• Perform system-level spur analyses and mitigation strategies.
• Own radio PCBA design and test through lifecycle and NPI to manufacturing.
• Assist with feasibility studies and system integration as needed.

Skills

RF design

Direct conversion

PLL / synthesizers

VNA / test

Cadence AWR

Python analysis

Embedded Linux

Security clearance

Education

B.S. Electrical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Ansys Electronics Desktop

Cadence AWR Microwave Office

PCB design/layout

Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

About the Team

Anduril's Electronic Warfare (EW) division builds next-generation electronic warfare platforms — hardware-enabled, software-defined systems that are fielded, operational, and scaling fast. The EW team operates at a tempo the defense industry isn't used to: delivering novel system configurations into active operations in days, not months, securing major contract awards in under 24 hours, and earning unanimous fielding recommendations from government evaluators. Production is scaling from hundreds to thousands of units across multiple product variants, and the release and delivery challenges are scaling with it.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop complete RF radio architectures (receivers, transmitters, transceivers) from requirements through production.
• Architect and design RF up-conversion and down-conversion signal chains, optimizing between noise, distortion, and dynamic range trade-offs.
• Modeling, simulation, analysis, design, test, and optimization of active and passive RF and/or mixed signal circuits.
• Select, characterize, and integrate high-speed data converters (ADCs and DACs) and associated baseband driving, filtering, and interface circuits.
• Design and optimize clock trees, reference oscillators, and LO/synthesizer architectures (DDS, PLL, VCO-based) with emphasis on phase noise, spurious, and settling time.
• Perform system-level spur analyses (mixer spurs, synthesizer harmonics, clock coupling, image rejection) and develop mitigation strategies.
• Own radio PCBA design and test through the full lifecycle: analysis (harmonic, spur, etc.), component selection (ADC/DAC, mixer, filters, etc.), technical data package (schematic/layout), board bring up, test, DVT/ATP, and new product introduction to manufacturing.
• Assist with feasibility studies, requirements definition, and system integration as needed.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• 7+ years experience
• Experience designing complete RF receiver and/or transmitter signal chains using common architectures (direct conversion, zero-IF, single-IF, dual-IF, clock-chains), including cascade analyses and architecture trade-off studies.
• Experience with off the shelf discrete RF components like LNAs, filters, mixers, PLLs / synthesizers, oscillators, amplifiers, variable attenuators, switches, power detectors, and limiters.
• Experience with high-speed data converters (ADC/DAC), including selection, characterization, integration, and associated anti-alias / reconstruction filter design.
• Experience with synthesizer and LO design including PLL loop filter optimization, phase noise analysis, and spur management.
• Experience with schematic capture, board bring up, test, and optimization.
• Experience with circuit modeling and simulation using tools like Ansys Electronics Desktop (Nexxim, SiWave) and Cadence AWR Microwave Office.
• Proficient with RF test equipment including VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters, and oscilloscopes.
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with 3D EM modeling and simulation (Ansys HFSS, CST, Feko) and nonlinear circuit simulation (harmonic balance, envelope) using tools like AWR Microwave Office.
• Familiar with matching circuit, RF filter design, and feedback / control loop design (AGC, ALC, power control).
• Experience with RF shielding, cavity design, and isolation techniques for leakage mitigation.
• Experience with NPI, manufacturing test development, and production transitions.
• Familiar with FPGA or digital backend integration with RF front ends.
• Experience with PCB design / layout and guiding layout engineers.
• Familiar with programming languages like Python for analysis and test automation.
• Familiar with embedded Linux.

US Salary Range

$220,000 - $292,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Anduril Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.