Senior RF Engineer

Fortem Technologies; Lindon (UT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortem Technologies seeks a highly skilled RF Design Engineer to lead the development of advanced RF systems and phased array antennas for radar applications. You will drive the full product lifecycle from RF front-end design to system integration and verification, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s degree (PhD preferred) and has hands-on RF/microwave design, antenna knowledge, and radar experience, with strong Python/MATLAB automation and test

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Strong RF/microwave circuit design knowledge and troubleshooting.
• Solid electromagnetics, antenna theory, and RF propagation understanding.
• Experience with phased array concepts and radar technologies.
• Hands-on RF test/measurement with VNAs, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes.
• Python and/or MATLAB for modeling, automation, and data analysis.
• Schematic capture and PCB design using Altium Designer.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, validate RF circuitry for transmit/receive chains and interfaces.
• Perform system analysis including gain, noise figure, and distortion.
• Support hardware bring-up, debugging, integration, and verification of RF subsystems.
• Lead system-level integration, testing, and performance verification.
• Characterize RF/antenna performance with VNAs, spectrum analyzers, and chamber measurements.
• Develop software tools and automation scripts for test automation and data analysis.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product development.
• Produce technical documentation, test reports, and design reviews.

Skills

RF design

Microwave design

Antenna theory

Python

MATLAB

Altium Designer

Schematic capture

PCB design

RF testing

Troubleshooting

Education

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering

PhD in Electrical Engineering (preferred)

Tools

ADS

HFSS

CST

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled RF Design Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, and verification of advanced RF systems and phased array antennas for radar applications. This role spans the full product lifecycle, from RF front-end architecture and circuit design through system integration, test, and performance validation. The ideal candidate holds a Master’s or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (or a related discipline) and possesses hands‑on experience in RF/microwave design, antenna systems, and radar technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and validate RF circuitry for transmit and receive signal chains, including frequency conversion stages, phase‑locked loops (PLLs), high‑speed ADCs/DACs, filters, mixers, amplifiers, and high‑speed digital interfaces (JESD204, LVDS, etc.).
• Perform RF system analysis, including cascaded gain, noise figure, compression performance (P1dB), harmonics, spurious responses, and intermodulation distortion.
• Support hardware bring‑up, debugging, integration, and verification of RF subsystems and radar platforms.
• Conduct system‑level integration, testing, and performance verification in laboratory and field environments.
• Perform RF and antenna characterization using vector network analyzers (VNAs), spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and anechoic chamber measurement systems.
• Analyze test results, identify performance issues, and drive design improvements through iterative development.
• Develop software tools and automation scripts in Python and/or MATLAB for test automation, modeling, simulation, and data analysis.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams, including systems, electrical, mechanical, firmware, software, and algorithm engineers, to ensure successful product development.
• Generate technical documentation, test reports, and design reviews to support development and verification activities.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable regulatory, environmental, reliability, and performance requirements.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.
• Strong background in RF and microwave circuit design, analysis, and troubleshooting.
• Solid understanding of electromagnetics, antenna theory, and RF propagation.
• Experience with phased array antenna concepts, including beamforming, beam steering, grating lobes, and mutual coupling effects.
• Hands‑on experience using RF test and measurement equipment, including VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and oscilloscopes.
• Proficiency in Python and/or MATLAB for modeling, simulation, automation, and data analysis.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB design tools (e.g., Altium Designer).
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Experience designing and developing radar, electronic warfare, or other advanced RF sensing systems.
• Hands‑on experience with PLLs, frequency synthesizers, high‑speed ADCs/DACs, JESD204 interfaces, and mixed‑signal RF architectures.
• Experience with antenna measurement and characterization techniques, including near‑field and far‑field testing in anechoic chamber environments.
• Familiarity with phased array calibration, RF system integration, and beamforming architectures.
• Experience developing automated test systems and production test methodologies.
• Knowledge of RF simulation and electromagnetic modeling tools such as ADS, HFSS, CST, or similar software.
• Experience working in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated engineering environments.

About Us

Fortem Technologies is the global leader in airspace security, delivering advanced solutions that protect against today’s autonomous aerial threats while ensuring the safety of tomorrow’s advanced air mobility. Fortem’s AI-powered SkyDome® Family of Systems combines TrueView™ sensors, command-and-control software, and autonomous DroneHunter® interceptors to defend military, government, and commercial operations worldwide from hostile or unauthorized drones. Fortem is the only company authorized to deploy a drone‑on‑drone kinetic interceptor in U.S. airspace, and its technology has been validated in operational deployments across Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia.

Headquartered in Lindon, Utah, Fortem is privately held and backed by Lockheed Martin, DCVC, Toshiba, AE Industrial Partners, AIM13, Signia Venture Partners, and others.

Fortem Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We believe that diversity drives innovation and makes us stronger.