Senior RF Systems Integration & Test Engineer

Draper Labs; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Draper seeks a Senior/Principal RF Engineer in Cambridge, MA to lead development, integration, testing, and troubleshooting of RF communications and sensor systems. You will apply RF design knowledge, mitigate noise, and drive EMI/grounding solutions with lab bench and field testing.

The role requires extensive hands-on testing, experience with ferrite beads, baluns, shielding, and antenna characterization, plus collaboration with software and hardware teams. US government clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Requires bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5–10 years of experience in Radio Frequency or Communications Engineering or related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert level system test and troubleshooting using signal generators, vector network analyzers, signal analyzers, E-field and B-field sensors
• Integration and test of passive LF/HF high power, standard and electrically small antennas and optimization of matching networks
• Anechoic chamber testing
• Support and/or lead engineering teams for in-house and local field testing of electromagnetic field propagation, antenna and communication link performance
• Drive solutions to complex problems with limited direction – contribute to requirements development, propose ways forward, and adapt to changes in requirements
• Perform analysis and modeling of RF hardware, provide insight and suggest design modifications based on analysis
• Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies
• Actively mentor less experienced engineers and provide thoughtful, constructive feedback

Skills

RF design

EMC/EMI knowledge

Anechoic chamber testing

System test and troubleshooting

Mentoring

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

ADS

AWR

HFSS

MATLAB

Python

VNA operation

Job description

Draper seeks a Senior/Principal RF Engineer in Cambridge, MA to lead development, integration, testing, and troubleshooting of RF communications and sensor systems. You will apply RF design knowledge, mitigate noise, and drive EMI/grounding solutions with lab bench and field testing.

The role requires extensive hands-on testing, experience with ferrite beads, baluns, shielding, and antenna characterization, plus collaboration with software and hardware teams. US government clearance is required.