Senior RF Antenna Systems & Hardware Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory seeks an RF Antenna Systems & Hardware Engineer to advance antenna modeling, test and measurement, and hardware integration for next‑generation sensor systems. You will design and evaluate RF apertures and phased arrays, perform lab and field measurements, prototype RF front ends, and collaborate with designers to translate results into system‑level improvements.

Requires a Master’s in Electrical Engineering or Physics, 3+ years of experience, and an

Qualifications

• Master's in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or equivalent, with a concentration in electromagnetics (EM), RF, or related fields.
• 3+ years of experience in antenna or RF aperture modeling, test, and measurement for radar, EW, or communication systems.
• Experience with commercial computational EM software packages such as HFSS, FEKO, CST, ADS, or equivalent.
• Hands-on experience developing or integrating antenna and RF hardware (e.g., RF front ends, feed networks, up/down converters, LNAs, PAs) and basic RF prototyping and debug.
• Strong MATLAB or Python skills for data processing, visualization, automation, and development of custom analysis tools.
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time, as needed, for field tests, range measurements, or sponsor engagements.
• An Active Secret Clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply antenna and RF aperture modeling and simulation tools (e.g., full-wave EM solvers, array analysis codes, custom MATLAB/Python tools) to design, analyze, and trade antenna and array performance across a variety of operational scenarios.
• Plan, execute, and analyze antenna and RF aperture measurements in laboratory, chamber, and field test environments, including radiation pattern measurements, gain and efficiency, impedance, polarization characteristics, and array calibration.
• Lead the rapid prototyping, integration, and debug of antenna systems, including RF front ends, feed networks, and integration of antennas with RF electronics and software-defined radios. Use RF lab equipment and automated test scripts to quickly assess and iterate on designs.
• Collaborate closely with antenna designers, RF hardware engineers, and systems engineers to translate modeling, measurement, and prototyping results into system-level recommendations and design updates, and document and present findings in internal reports and technical briefings to sponsors.

Skills

MATLAB or Python

Antenna / RF design

Data analysis

Education

Master's in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or equivalent

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or equivalent

Tools

HFSS

FEKO

CST

ADS

Job description

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory seeks an RF Antenna Systems & Hardware Engineer to advance antenna modeling, test and measurement, and hardware integration for next‑generation sensor systems. You will design and evaluate RF apertures and phased arrays, perform lab and field measurements, prototype RF front ends, and collaborate with designers to translate results into system‑level improvements.

Requires a Master’s in Electrical Engineering or Physics, 3+ years of experience, and an