Sr. Principal, RF Engineer

iRF Solutions; Sparks (NV); On-site; USD 190,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

iRF Solutions, a leader in tailored solutions for SIGINT and Electronic Warfare, is seeking a Sr. Principal RF Engineer in Sparks, MD. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership across engineering and business development while driving innovation in RF technologies.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, 15 years of RF design experience, and active security clearance. A competitive salary of $190,000 to $215,000 annually is offered, along with a supportive workplace committed to diversity.

This role is onsite with a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of experience in RF/microwave circuit design.
• Extensive experience in designing RF/microwave products with challenging specifications.
• Hands-on design experience supporting receivers and frequency converters up to 18 GHz.

Responsibilities

• Lead RF design and development for SIGINT and Electronic Warfare applications.
• Develop and execute multi-year technology roadmap.
• Interface directly with customers to define concepts and requirements.

Skills

RF/microwave circuit design

Leadership

PCB-based circuitry

Technical mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Keysight Genesys

OrCAD

MATLAB

PSpice

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Sr. Principal, RF Engineer

Full Time, Sparks, MD, US

Salary Range: $190,000.00 to $215,000.00 Annually

iRF - Intelligent RF Solutions is a leader in providing tailored solutions for SIGINT and Electronic Warfare (EW) missions. We understand our customers’ challenges and use our expertise to create solutions. We are not just a supplier, but a problem‑solving partner with a strong foundation in supporting global defense and intelligence missions.

We are dedicated to attracting high‑achieving individuals. Our team members are bound by a common purpose – commitment to our customers’ missions.

The following statements describe the general nature of the work performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all essential functions, duties, and skills required of personnel in this classification. Management retains the discretion to add or change duties at any time.

Position Summary

The Sr. Principal RF Engineer will serve as the technical authority and RF subject‑matter expert (SME) for the organization, providing strategy and hands‑on leadership across Engineering, Business Development, and Executive Management. This role is responsible for the architecture design and development of advanced RF/microwave receivers, frequency converters, and related technologies supporting SIGINT, Electronic Warfare, and radar applications.

The successful candidate will drive innovation through design leadership, customer engagement, and execution of long‑term technology roadmaps, while mentoring engineering teams and supporting strategic business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the RF SME for the business, providing overall technical leadership to the Engineering Team, technical support to the iRF Management Team, and Sales and Business Development support for customer engagements.
• Lead the design and development of state‑of‑the‑art RF/microwave receivers, frequency‑converters, and related products for SIGINT, EW, and radar applications.
• Develop and execute the multi‑year technology roadmap, including associated IRAD & CRAD projects, as an input to the iRF strategic plan.
• Perform top‑level requirements analysis and design of system architecture, including frequency planning and cascade analysis.
• Serve as the lead RF design engineer and individual technical contributor on critical development programs.
• Interface directly with customers to define concepts, requirements, and technical solutions for new IRAD and product development.
• Chair internal and customer design reviews, including planning, execution, technical presentations, and documentation.
• Provide technical support for Business Development activities, including white papers, presentations, technical proposals, meetings, and events.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or related discipline) with a minimum of 15 years of RF/microwave circuit design experience, or a graduate degree with at least 13 years of related experience.
• Extensive circuit design experience in RF/microwave products, with a history of designing products with challenging performance specifications such as low noise figure, low phase noise, and excellent 2nd and 3rd order intercepts.
• Hands‑on design experience for PCB‑based RF/microwave circuitry supporting receivers and frequency converters to 18 GHz and beyond.
• Well‑versed in receiver/frequency‑converter system design, including frequency planning, spur analysis, RF/microwave filter technologies, cascade GNIP analysis, microwave mixers, PLL‑based frequency generation, and design trade‑offs.
• Leadership qualities, with the ability to work well with and lead a diverse group of engineering disciplines.
• Familiarity with computer‑aided design tools such as Keysight Genesys, OrCAD, MATLAB, PSpice, or equivalent.
• Active Secret clearance and eligibility for TS/SCI clearance.
• Must pass a pre‑employment drug screening and background check.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and technical leads, advancing engineering excellence, scalable system design, and execution of the strategic technology roadmap.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the millimeter‑wave frequency range, wideband digitization, and low SWaP design.
• Active TS or TS/SCI clearance.

Location

Onsite in Sparks, MD with a 9/80 schedule. Every other Friday OFF.

Security and Eligibility

Many positions require the ability to obtain security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. Applicants who accept a conditional offer may be subject to government security investigations and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Proof of employment authorization will be required. Only U.S. persons within the meaning of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and Export Administration Regulations will be considered for this position.

EEO Statement

iRF Solutions is proud to be a Disability/Veteran Employer. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. We maintain a drug‑free workplace and perform pre‑employment substance abuse testing and background checks where permitted by law.

As an equal‑opportunity employer, iRF Solutions is committed to a diverse workforce. Qualified individuals with a disability or a disabled veteran have the right to request a reasonable accommodation if they are unable or limited in their ability to use the iRF Solutions career website due to their disability. Accommodations may be requested by contacting Denise Nocerino at [e-mail] or by phone at (631) 272‑5814.