Senior RF Engineer

Helsing; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous compensation package

Flexible paid time off

Remote and hybrid work options

Job summary

Helsing is looking for an RF Engineer for Communications and Networking to support our US operations. You will design and develop advanced communication systems for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in contested environments. Your expertise will be critical in ensuring robust, encrypted communications.

The ideal candidate will have a degree in Electrical or Telecommunications Engineering and extensive experience in military communications technologies. Join us to make a difference in defending democracies.

Qualifications

• Several years of experience designing military datalinks.
• Deep knowledge of communication technologies.
• Experience with US FCC spectrum management.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop UAS-to-ground communication architectures.
• Test and validate radio systems for reliability.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

RF Engineering

Military communications

Software Defined Radio

Network management

Cybersecurity

Mesh networking

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering

Degree in Telecommunications Engineering

Degree in RF Engineering

Tools

Spectrum analyzers

RF test equipment

Job description

Who We Are

Helsing develops artificial intelligence‑enabled capabilities to protect and defend democracies. We are growing our US operations, cultivating an ambitious and committed team of mission‑driven professionals to apply their skills to solve challenging problems.

Role Overview

AI‑driven, autonomous systems cannot replace human decision making. To keep the human in the loop, communication to remote unmanned vehicles is crucial. As an RF Engineer for Communications and Networking, you will work in one of the most contested domains of the modern battlefield: the electromagnetic spectrum. You will design, develop, and deploy advanced datalink systems for UAS‑to‑ground and UAS‑to‑UAS communications, including point‑to‑point and mesh network architectures, ensuring robust, encrypted communications links for UAS operating in non‑cooperative and contested environments, directly supporting mission‑critical operations for US customers. You will own radio communication end‑to‑end as part of new product design and iterations on existing systems. You make pragmatic decisions when to integrate available solutions and when to develop new capabilities that shape the contested environment of the frontline RF space. Working closely with systems engineers, avionics teams, and customer‑facing program managers, you will be key to ensuring the right decision can be made at the right time.

Day‑to‑Day Responsibilities

• Design and develop UAS‑to‑ground and UAS‑to‑UAS datalink architectures, including point‑to‑point and mesh network topologies for resilient communications.
• Develop robust, encrypted communication links for UAS operating in non‑cooperative, contested, and denied environments.
• Integrate tactical C2 networks with UAS platforms, including systems such as IBCS (Integrated Battle Command System), Tactical Scalable Mesh (TSM), and other military communication standards.
• Stay on top of the market and ever‑changing battlefield situations to identify existing, promising, or missing RF solutions.
• Test, validate, and integrate radio systems into newly developed and existing products, working against customer and internal requirements to build reliable radio solutions.
• Obtain US FCC spectrum approvals and manage frequency coordination for testing and operational use in US regulatory environments.
• Collaborate with governmental bodies to get permissions for licensed bands and power outputs to test and demonstrate modern radio systems in regulated RF domains.
• Design and implement Software Defined Radio (SDR) solutions, working with RF frontends, modem implementations, and application interfaces.
• Conduct RF link budget analysis and performance modeling to ensure datalink reliability across operational ranges and environments.
• Work with external partners to access specialized equipment and build up internal lab capabilities for commonly executed tests.
• Shape discussions inside the company as a go‑to expert for radio communications and serve as a technical authority for US customer engagements.

Qualifications

• Hold a degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, RF Engineering, or a related field.
• Have several years of experience designing and deploying military datalinks, mesh networks, or tactical communications systems.
• Possess deep knowledge of military and civil communication technologies, including Software Defined Radios, data links, air‑to‑air and air‑to‑ground communications, mesh networking protocols (e.g., MANET), network management, and secure communications.
• Have experience integrating UAS with tactical C2 networks and understand military communication architectures and interoperability standards.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of how radio technology works and its limitations.
• Have experience with US FCC spectrum management, frequency allocation processes, and compliance with US regulatory requirements.
• Possess knowledge of RF link design, including antenna design, propagation modeling, and link budget analysis.
• Understand encryption and cybersecurity requirements for military communications, including AES‑256 and other COMSEC standards.
• Have strong communication skills and enjoy working with internal stakeholders and external companies, including US government agencies and defense contractors.
• Are pragmatic and validate calculated expectations in the real world to be satisfied.

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarized in a few bullet points.

Nice to Have

• Designed, built, and evaluated custom antennas for airborne platforms.
• Built, worked on, or implemented a Software Defined Radio solution.
• Experience with specific tactical datalinks such as Link 16, JREAP, CDL (Common Data Link), or Cursor‑on‑Target (CoT).
• Familiarity with Mobile Ad‑Hoc Networks (MANET) and dynamic mesh routing protocols.
• Knowledge of Electronic Warfare (EW) techniques, anti‑jam waveforms, and LPI/LPD (Low Probability of Intercept/Detection) communications.
• Experience with spectrum analyzers and RF test equipment for pre‑flight checks and interference mitigation.
• Understanding of MIMO, OFDM, OFDMA transmission schemes and beamforming techniques.
• Experience working with Silvus, Persistent Systems (MPU5), or similar tactical radio systems.
• Knowledge of NATO STANAG communication standards and interoperability requirements.
• Familiarity with ITAR/EAR export control regulations related to communications equipment.
• Experience in the defense industry or contested RF environments.

What We Offer

• A focus on outcomes, not time‑tracking.
• A generous compensation and benefits package that includes, but may not be limited to, insurance coverage (medical and travel), flexible paid time off, paid holidays, and remote and/or hybrid work available depending on position. All compensation and benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the underlying plans or programs, as applicable and as may be amended, terminated or superseded from time to time.
• Growth toward global roles in our Finance organization.

The base salary offered to the successful candidate will be determined by a variety of factors including relevant experience, qualifications, education, skill level, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Helsing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.

Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.