Senior RF Engineer

Strativ Group; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401k match

FSA/HSA

Life insurance

Job summary

Strativ Group seeks a Senior RF Engineer to design, analyze, and verify high-reliability RF/microwave electronics for aerospace and defense. You’ll work hands-on across full lifecycle from architecture to production sustainment, translating system requirements into robust RF implementations.

Expect lab and field testing, real hardware, and close collaboration with cross-functional teams. The role is on-site in Los Angeles with a focus on RF test, measurement, and integration, leveraging

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with 7+ years RF experience OR Master’s with 5+ years OR PhD with 2+ years.
• Experience in RF hardware for aerospace/defense, avionics, radar, EW, or space systems.
• Hands-on RF test equipment experience (VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters).
• Ability to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve complex RF circuit issues.
• Strong attention to detail in fast-paced development environments.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and tune RF circuits using catalog MMICs (LNAs, PAs, baluns, filters, mixers).
• Perform architecture development and component trade studies for system RF performance.
• Plan and execute RF testing and characterization across board, module, and subsystem levels.
• Contribute to RF test equipment, fixtures, and automation design.
• Collaborate with systems, power, digital, mechanical, and software teams to ensure RF integration.
• Provide technical support from development through production and during post-production.
• Support RF simulations (HFSS, ADS, AWR) and validate with measurements.
• Assist PCB layout and RF stack-up definition (impedance, grounding, shielding).

Skills

RF hardware design

Aerospace/defense RF

RF test equipment

Troubleshooting RF circuits

Detail-oriented

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

VNAs

Spectrum analyzers

Signal generators

Power meters

Altium PCB

HFSS/ADS/AWR

Job description

Seeking a Senior RF Engineer to support the design, analysis, integration, and verification of high-reliability RF and microwave electronics for aerospace and defense applications. This role works as part of a cross-functional, agile development team and spans the full product lifecycle, from early architecture and component trade studies through detailed design, testing, production support, and post-production sustainment of mission-critical systems. This is a hands-on hardware role focused on translating system requirements into robust RF implementations, integrating and troubleshooting prototype hardware, and validating performance through lab and field experimentation. The ideal candidate is comfortable using simulation tools to guide decisions, but is strongest when working with real hardware, real measurements, and real system tradeoffs. This is a full-time, on-site position in Los Angeles.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, prototype, and tune RF circuit boards incorporating catalog MMICs, including LNAs, power amplifiers, baluns, filters, mixers, and associated bias and matching networks
• Perform architecture development and component trade studies to meet system-level RF performance requirements
• Plan and execute RF testing and characterization, including integration and troubleshooting at the board, module, and subsystem levels
• Contribute to the design and specification of RF test equipment, fixtures, and automation
• Collaborate with systems, power, digital, mechanical, and software engineers to ensure RF designs integrate cleanly within larger systems
• Serve as a technical contributor from development through production and post-production, including failure analysis and field support
• Support linear, nonlinear, and electromagnetic simulations using industry-standard tools (e.g., HFSS, ADS, AWR, or equivalent)
• Support design, analyze, prototype, and tune RF circuit boards incorporating catalog MMICs, including LNAs, power amplifiers, baluns, filters, mixers, and associated bias and matching networks
• Support PCB layout (Altium) and RF stack-up definition, including impedance control, grounding, shielding, and isolation techniques

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with 7+ years of progressively responsible RF engineering experience, or a Masters with 5+ years, or a PhD with 2+ years of relevant experience

Required Skills

• Experience developing RF hardware for aerospace, defense, avionics, radar, EW, communications, or space systems
• Strong understanding of RF fundamentals and how they add to system-level performance, including gain, noise figure, linearity, phase noise, stability, and impedance matching
• Hands-on experience with RF test equipment (e.g., VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters)
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve complex RF circuit performance issues
• Strong attention to detail and ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, development-focused environments
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Preferred Skills

• Experience with radar, EW, remote sensing, or communications subsystem architecture and performance analysis.
• Experience planning and executing lab and field experiments, including test planning, data collection, and measurement correlation.
• Experience with RF front-end prototyping and integration, including LNAs, PAs, filters, mixers, frequency conversion chains, and antenna interfaces.
• Familiarity with antenna/system integration, EMI/EMC, environmental constraints, and applicable aerospace/defense standards.
• Experience correlating simulation, analysis, and measured data to refine designs and retire technical risk.
• Experience supporting design reviews, customer interactions, verification planning, and transition from development into production.
• Active U.S. security clearance.
• Experience with power amplifier design, analysis, and integration
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC considerations for RF systems and compliance with applicable aerospace standards
• Experience with mixed-signal or RF/digital interfaces
• Knowledge of manufacturing considerations for RF hardware, including tolerance analysis and yield drivers
• Experience supporting production hardware and fielded systems
• Experience with RF PCB layout best practices and design-for-manufacturing considerations
• Familiarity with DO-160, MIL-STD-461, or similar aerospace/defense standards

Pay range and compensation package

• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
• Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more