RF Test Engineering Lead for Production

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions is seeking a Lead RF Test Engineer to serve as the RF technical lead within Production Engineering. This role guides RF test strategy, mentors engineers, and drives root-cause analysis for high-impact issues, while remaining hands-on when needed.

The position emphasizes improving yield, developing automated test systems with Python/ LabVIEW/ TestStand, and collaborating with Design Engineering to address testability early in the product lifecycle.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship.
• 5+ years of hands-on RF test experience.
• Strong understanding of RF test fundamentals and RF measurements with hands-on equipment experience.
• Experience troubleshooting RF failures in lab or production environments.
• Experience scripting or programming test equipment using Python or similar tools.
• Ability to mentor engineers and technicians.
• Ability to work mostly onsite due to lab and production hardware.
• Strong judgment under production schedule pressure and practical problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the RF technical lead for Production Engineering, providing direction to junior engineers and cross‑functional teams.
• Lead troubleshooting for RF production issues from diagnosis to corrective action.
• Improve first‑pass yield, reduce repeats, and shorten troubleshooting time across the team.
• Support production test for RF, modem, and wideband digitizer hardware with spectrum analyzers, VNAs, signal generators, and meters.
• Develop and maintain automated and legacy test systems using Python, LabVIEW, or TestStand.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering on test strategy, coverage, and NPI readiness.
• Recommend and refine RF test methods, fixtures, procedures, and documentation for repeatability.
• Escalate RF risks with data and action plans for leadership decisions.
• Establish operating discipline around RF issues, ownership, escalation, and cross‑functional communication.

Skills

RF test fundamentals

RF measurements

Troubleshooting

Mentoring

Production mindset

Tools

Spectrum analyzers

Vector network analyzers

Signal generators

Power meters

Oscilloscopes

Python scripting

LabVIEW

TestStand

Job description

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions is seeking a Lead RF Test Engineer to serve as the RF technical lead within Production Engineering. This role guides RF test strategy, mentors engineers, and drives root-cause analysis for high-impact issues, while remaining hands-on when needed.

The position emphasizes improving yield, developing automated test systems with Python/ LabVIEW/ TestStand, and collaborating with Design Engineering to address testability early in the product lifecycle.