Principal RF Engineer

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for complex RF and microwave system development efforts
• Lead the design, analysis, integration, and verification of advanced RF hardware and systems
• Develop innovative solutions for challenging customer problems and guide projects from proposal through product delivery
• Interface directly with customers, presenting technical approaches, design reviews, and program status
• Provide technical leadership for multiple projects while ensuring successful execution of cost, schedule, and performance objectives
• Lead technical discussions with government, commercial, and subcontractor partners
• Mentor and develop engineers across all experience levels through design reviews, and technical guidance
• Establish engineering best practices, design methodologies, and technical standards
• Conduct design reviews and provide independent technical assessments to reduce program risk
• Support business development activities by contributing to white papers, technical proposals, customer briefings, and technology roadmaps
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend strategic investments to expand FIRST RF's technical capabilities
• Foster collaboration across multidisciplinary teams including RF, antenna, digital, embedded software, and mechanical engineering

Qualifications

• Required Education and Experience:
• U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field
• Experience analyzing, and integrating RF devices and networks including amplifiers, filters, attenuators, phase shifters, mixers, frequency converters, and related components
• Experience with antenna design, characterization, testing, and modeling
• Experience using electromagnetic simulation tools including HFSS, FEKO, CST Studio Suite, Microwave Office, or similar software
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through successful project execution
• Proficiency with technical programming languages such as MATLAB or Python for analysis, simulation, and automation
• Extensive experience using RF laboratory equipment including vector network analyzers, and spectrum analyzers
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with engineers, executives, and customers
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across an organization
• A passion for solving challenging technical problems with creativity, curiosity, and attention to detail
• Comfortable working in laboratory and prototype development environments
• Willingness to rapidly iterate, learn from failures, and continuously improve designs
• Preferred Education and Experience:
• Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with a focus in RF or Electromagnetics
• 10+ years of professional experience in RF and microwave engineering with a demonstrated record of technical leadership
• Extensive experience using RF laboratory equipment including signal generators, oscilloscopes, and power meters
• Experience with printed circuit board design, layout review, fabrication, assembly, and test
• Experience with phased-array antennas and beamforming
• Experience designing RF front ends for radar, electronic warfare, communications, or software-defined radio (SDR) systems
• Experience with Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB layout
• Experience supporting proposal development, technology roadmaps, and customer capture activities

About FIRST RF

• We are a fast-growing, multi-discipline, privately owned small business focused on engineering and manufacturing of advanced technologies – specifically in antennas and radio frequency (RF) systems.
• We are an energetic team empowered with world-class facilities and resources.
• We promote a culture which prioritizes innovation and responsiveness.
• By making bold investments in the development of groundbreaking technologies, FIRST RF has fielded award-winning products ranging from revolutionary passive antennas to highly complex, active antenna systems.

Benefits

• All employees receive four weeks of PTO each year, flexible scheduling, hybrid work, tuition reimbursement, up to 6% 401(k) match, and healthcare, dental, and vision plans.

AAP/EEO Statement

• We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in all of our employment practices, including selection, hiring, assignment, re-assignment, promotion, transfer, compensation, discipline, and termination.
• The Company prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in employment based on race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex (including same sex); sexual orientation; gender identity; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability or handicap; citizenship status; service member status; or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
• We support protected veterans and individuals with disabilities through our affirmative action program.