RF Design Engineer (FPGA)

Quartermaster; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) options

Professional development support

Equity eligibility

Job summary

A leading technology firm in maritime defense is seeking an experienced RF Design Electrical Engineer to design and maintain secure data systems. The role involves developing RF circuits, performing analysis, and integrating hardware with SDR platforms. Ideal candidates have 7+ years in RF design, a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, and proficiency in RF tools. This is a remote or hybrid position that offers competitive salary and benefits including health insurance and equity eligibility.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in RF design and hardware development.
• Strong foundation in RF theory and complete RF signal chains.
• Proficiency with RF simulation and PCB design tools.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, and develop custom RF circuits and SDR hardware.
• Perform RF modeling, link budgets, and system-level performance analysis.
• Lead design reviews and mentor junior engineers.

Skills

RF design

analog hardware design

troubleshooting

documentation

communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

ADS

HFSS

Altium

Job description

About Us:

At Quartermaster AI, we believe the ocean should be a safe and sustainably managed resource for all. By leveraging cutting-edge AI, distributed sensing, and resilient data systems, we unlock capabilities that were only recently impossible. Our distributed open‑ocean systems enable vessels and coastal infrastructure to sense, compute, and communicate, enhancing maritime domain awareness for those who need it most.

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly experienced RF Design Electrical Engineer (7+ years experience) to design, build, and maintain secure, resilient, and scalable data systems supporting mission‑critical maritime and defense applications.

This role requires deep expertise in RF and analog hardware design. The ideal candidate has experience working with government contractors, military systems, or regulated environments and understands the operational demands of real‑time, high‑availability data platforms.

Familiarity with GIS, streaming architectures, SDR/radio systems, radar pipelines, maritime domain awareness systems, or military data management is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, simulate, and develop custom RF circuits and SDR hardware, including complete RF signal chains (LNAs, PAs, mixers, filters, oscillators, ADC/DAC, antennas).

• Perform RF modeling, link budgets, and system‑level performance analysis using industry‑standard simulation tools.

• Design and optimize high‑frequency, multi‑layer PCBs ensuring signal integrity, impedance control, EMI/EMC compliance, and thermal performance.

• Prototype, test, validate, and troubleshoot RF systems using lab instrumentation (VNA, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, oscilloscope).

• Integrate RF front‑end hardware with SDR platforms, FPGAs, and embedded systems.

• Lead design reviews, mentor junior engineers, and maintain comprehensive technical documentation.

• Ensure regulatory compliance and support ruggedized deployments in maritime, airborne, or tactical environments.

• Drive continuous improvements in performance, efficiency, manufacturability, and reliability.

Qualifications (Required):

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.

• 7+ years of experience in RF design and hardware development, delivering custom RF subsystems and components.

• Strong foundation in RF theory (impedance matching, S‑parameters, noise figure, phase noise, intermodulation, link budgets).

• Experience designing complete RF signal chains (LNAs, PAs, mixers, filters, synthesizers, ADC/DAC, antenna matching).

• Proficiency with RF simulation and PCB design tools (ADS, HFSS, CST, Altium, Cadence, or similar).

• Experience designing high‑frequency, multi‑layer PCBs with controlled impedance and EMI/EMC mitigation.

• Hands‑on expertise with RF lab instrumentation (VNA, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, oscilloscope).

• Experience integrating RF hardware with SDR platforms, FPGAs, or embedded systems.

• Proven ability to troubleshoot, validate, and transition designs from prototype to production (DFM/DFT).

• Strong documentation and communication skills.

• Experience in defense, government, or secure environments; ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance preferred.

• Experience working in defense, government contracting, or secure environments.

• Experience transitioning designs from prototype to production (DFM/DFT).

Qualifications (Preferred):

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or RF/Microwave Engineering.

• Experience designing across multiple frequency bands (AIS, VHF, UHF, L/S/C/X‑band or higher).

• Familiarity with radar systems, electronic warfare (EW), ISR systems, or maritime RF applications.

• Experience with spectrum compliance and regulatory standards (FCC, CE, MIL‑STD, ITAR).

• Experience designing ruggedized hardware for maritime, airborne, or tactical deployments.

Work Environment:

• Remote or hybrid position

• Secure, mission‑driven engineering environment.

• Collaboration with cross‑functional technical and operational teams.

• Occasional schedule flexibility required for mission support.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary

• Equity eligibility

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) options

• Professional development and certification support

• Opportunity to work on mission‑critical maritime and defense technology