Senior Advanced RF Hardware Engineer

STR; Woburn (MA); On-site; USD 134,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

STR’s Cyber Division is hiring a Senior Advanced RF Hardware Engineer to design, analyze, and characterize RF hardware architectures for rapid prototype development and HWIL systems. You will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to build surrogate designs and support software/hardware modeling efforts.

The role involves leading lab-based acquisition platforms, conducting design reviews, and contributing to test automation and reusable hardware designs.

Qualifications

• This position requires TS clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
• BS in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering; MS preferred.
• Proven expertise in RF, analog, or digital circuit design.
• Experience presenting technical material to customers and internal staff.
• Experience leading hardware efforts from concept to implementation with cost/schedule control.

Responsibilities

• Develop rapid prototype RF solutions from free space to bits using COTS and custom designs.
• Characterize and debug complex electronic systems in a lab using test equipment.
• Prepare and execute test events for customers and stakeholders.
• Lead the development of lab-based acquisition and control platforms for testing hardware.
• Serve as hardware team representative in interdisciplinary projects; contribute system architecture knowledge.
• Support proposals with technical input on paths, BOM, cost, and schedule estimates.

Skills

RF design

Analog/mixed signal

System testing

Reverse engineering

Prototype testing

Test instrumentation

Leadership

Documentation

Education

BS in EE or CS

MS in related field

Tools

VNA

Oscilloscopes

Spice

MATLAB/Simulink

Cadence

Altium

Job description

STR’sCyber Divisionis hiring a Senior Advanced RF Hardware Engineer who will leverage their RF, analog/mixed signal and system test skills to contribute to a multi-disciplinary team engaged in solving unique problems. The successful candidate will be comfortable designing, analyzing, and characterizing a variety of hardware architectures to aid with software and hardware modeling efforts. They should have a firm grasp of the fundamentals of RF system architecture to support both software and hardware reverse engineering tasks and be able to use their hardware expertise to rapidly test prototype solutions.

We are seeking candidates with design experience to participate in the development of RF Hardware in the Loop (HWIL) systems, surrogate builds, digital twins, and hardware modeling support platforms that integrate a variety of electrical subsystems, ranging from commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components to custom-designed boards. The successful candidate will contribute to the design process of a growing hardware team by participating in design reviews with comprehensive design documentation, building and executing automated test suites, and collaborating to ensure quality outputs and support for future design re-use.

What you will do:

• Develop rapid prototype RF solutions to go from free space to bits using a combination of COTS and custom designs
• Work in a laboratory environment utilizing test equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, VNAs etc.) to characterize and debug complex electronic systems
• Prepare and execute test events for customers and internal and external stakeholders
• Lead efforts to develop lab-based acquisition and control platforms to aid in test and characterization of hardware systems
• Serve as the hardware team representative on interdisciplinary efforts to contribute knowledge of system architecture and focused processor implementations
• Participate in proposal efforts by providing input on technical path and BOM/cost and schedule estimates

Who you are:

• This position requires the ability to obtain a Top Secret (TS) security clearance, for which U.S. citizenship is needed by U.S. Government
• BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field with 5 years of related experience OR a MS and 3 years
• Proven expertise of electrical circuit design principles in at least one of the following areas: RF, analog, or digital
• Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to mentor junior engineering staff
• Experience preparing and presenting technical material to customers and internal staff
• Experience leading hardware efforts from concept to implementation managing cost and scheduling requirements

Nice to Haves:

• Active Top Secret (TS) Security Clearance
• Strong RF design or implementation background with experience in system analysis and component characterization
• Experience with FPGA forward and reverse engineering processes and methodology
• Experience with RF electromagnetics theory, antenna modeling, and link budget analysis for OTA testing
• Experience integrating and working with software defined radios and RFSOC platforms
• Experience developing PCB-based designs and implementing FPGA and embedded software to support HWIL and surrogate designs
• Experience with Analog and RF circuit simulation and modeling tools (e.g., Spice, MATLAB/Simulink, Microwave Office)
• Experience in DSP or other signal processing skills
• Experience using and developing tools and test software for Linux (e.g., Red Hat, Ubuntu)
• Software development in support of RF systems testing with a variety of tools/packages in MATLAB, Python, or C++
• Knowledge of PCB design and fabrication principles and familiarity with industry standard CAD tools (e.g., Cadence, Altium, Eagle)

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $134,000 - $184,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Final offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, Carlsbad, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STRis committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at www.str.us for more info.

STRis an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at [e-mail] and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.