Senior RF Engineer Hardware

Frontdoor Defense; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Front Door Defense is looking for a Senior RF Engineer to take charge of RF design, implementation, and testing of their GNSS systems in Burlingame, California. Your expertise will contribute to the development of the world's most advanced position, navigation, and timing satellite infrastructure.

The ideal candidate should have substantial experience with RF communications and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Responsibilities include working with multidisciplinary teams to ensure high-accuracy broadcasts and optimize performance in real-world applications.

Qualifications

• 3 - 5 years of RF engineering experience.
• Hands-on experience with RF test set-ups and calibrations.
• Ability to analyze and interpret RF test data.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize RF systems for GNSS systems.
• Conduct testing and validation for RF broadcast systems.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on design projects.

Skills

Understanding of electromagnetic principles behind radio frequency communications

Ability to interpret PCBA schematics and layout drawings

Hands-on experience using electrical/RF test equipment

Knowledge of performance metrics for RF communications systems

Experience with antenna design and/or testing

Familiarity with RF circuit simulation tools

Excellent problem-solving skills

Effective communication and interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

Altium

Ansys HFSS

Keysight ADS

AWR Microwave Office

Job description

Senior RF Engineer

Own the end-to-end RF design, testing, and validation for Xona's GNSS payloads

Location: Burlingame, California, United States

Compensation: $140,000 - 185,000 USD / year

Job Tags: Hardware

About The Role

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world's most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

As an Senior RF Engineer at Xona, you'll be designing, implementing, testing, and optimizing RF systems to enable our next-generation GNSS system. From spacecraft payload electronics to ground monitoring systems, your work will ensure the end-to-end RF broadcast system delivers Xona's high-accuracy and high-precision PNT service.

Required Qualifications

• Understanding of electromagnetic principles behind radio frequency communications.
• Ability to interpret PCBA schematics and layout drawings. Familiarity with PCB ECAD tools such as Altium.
• Hands‑on experience using electrical/RF test equipment, including multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, and spectrum analyzers.
• Knowledge of typical performance metrics for RF communications systems.
• Hands‑on experience/coursework with antenna design and/or testing. Familiarity with 3D EM simulations tools such as Ansys HFSS.
• RF amplifier and circuits tuning.
• RF Design experience in L-Band, S-Band and C Band.
• Familiarity with RF circuit simulation tools, such as Keysight ADS or AWR Microwave Office.
• Hands‑on experience with RF test set‑ups and calibrations.
• Ability to analyze and interpret RF test data, and assess performance vs. design requirements.
• Willing and able to travel to support off-site testing events as needed.
• Self-starter attitude and proactive in seeing projects from design through implementation.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, cross‑team collaborative environment.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work closely with multidisciplinary teams and external partners to achieve project goals.
• To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 - 5 years of RF engineering experience
• Experience with space RF electronics, with an understanding of phenomena such as multipaction.
• Knowledge/experience with GNSS systems.
• Proven RF PCB and/or antenna designs from past work.
• Implementation of passive or active RF sub-systems whether on the bench or on PCBs.

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.