Principal RF Engineer

Summary FIRST RF is seeking an experienced Principal RF Engineer to provide technical leadership across a diverse portfolio of advanced RF and microwave systems. In this role, you will serve as a subject matter expert, lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, and partner directly with customers to develop innovative solutions from concept through production.

You will contribute across FIRST RF's four technology divisions, developing next-generation phased-array systems, millimeter-wave antennas, advanced signal detection technologies, radar systems, and other cutting-edge RF solutions for government and commercial customers. This position requires exceptional technical depth, systems thinking, and the ability to mentor engineers.

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

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 organizationA 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…