RF Design Engineer

About the Role

We are seeking an RF engineer to develop, analyze, and optimize RF electrical aspects of sensor systems. As a member of the Sensor Systems Engineering group, you will collaborate with teams of passionate engineers and scientists who build, analyze, and test systems for the Air and Missile Defense Sector. Our team strives to deliver robust solutions to address difficult problems facing the U.S. Department of Defense and the warfighter.

Responsibilities

• Build innovative hardware solutions such as antennas, custom PCBs, RF circuits, and systems.
• Apply electrical and RF engineering tools to develop and predict hardware performance.
• Define and complete hardware test activities to assess hardware system performance.
• Document and present work to sponsors, technical teams, and APL management.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest RF electronics, embedded systems, and embedded software innovations.
• Continually grow your skills in engineering, communication, and leadership.

Requirements

• Possess a B.S. in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or an equivalent technical domain.
• Demonstrated ability with ECAD design tools such as Altium, Ki-CAD, Eagle, and/or Mentor Graphics.
• Familiarity using embedded software tools/languages (i.e., Arduino, Platform.io, CMake, C, C++).
• Experience with MATLAB or similar computational tools.
• Comfortable using lab test equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, signal generators, etc.
• Familiarity with electromagnetic and RF concepts such as transmission line theory, Maxwell’s equations, power budgets.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Able to acquire an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately acquire a TS/SCI level clearance. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with Navy, Army, Marine, or Air Force radar or communications systems.
• Experience developing RF systems or subsystems (i.e., amplifier stages, filtering, combining networks, etc.).
• Experience designing, manufacturing, populating, and testing custom PCBs.
• Familiarity writing VHDL and/or working with FPGAs.
• Strong understanding of full-wave electromagnetic solvers.
• Experience operating within a rapid prototyping environment.

About Us

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space, and science challenges. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates. At APL, we celebrate differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas.

Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area.

Pay

Minimum Rate: $85,000 Annually

Maximum Rate: $195,000 Annually

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Education assistance and training and development.
• Eligible staff may receive bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation, including sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.