Sr. Principal, RF Engineer

Sr. Principal, RF Engineer

Full Time. Sparks, MD, US.

iRF – Intelligent RF Solutions is a leader in tailored solutions for SIGINT and Electronic Warfare missions. This role serves as the technical authority and RF SME, providing strategy and hands‑on leadership across Engineering, Business Development, and Executive Management, focusing on 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.

• Serve as the RF SME for the business, providing overall technical leadership to the Engineering Team, technical support to the iRF Management Team, as well as 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.
• Perform top‑level requirements analysis and design of system architecture, including frequency plan and cascade analysis.
• Serve as the lead RF design engineer and an 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.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or related discipline) and a minimum 15 years of related experience in RF/microwave circuit design, or a Graduate Degree and a minimum of 13 years of related experience.
• Extensive circuit design experience in the area of RF/microwave products, with a history of designing products with challenging performance specifications (low noise figure, low phase noise, excellent 2nd and 3rd order intercepts).
• Extensive hands‑on design experience in PCB‑based design of RF/MW circuitry supporting receivers and frequency converters to 18 GHz and beyond.
• Well‑versed in receiver/frequency converter system design, including frequency planning and spur analysis, RF/MW filter technologies, cascade GNIP analysis, MW mixers, frequency generation using PLL ICs, and design trade‑offs.
• Must possess leadership qualities and be able to work well with and lead a diverse group of engineering disciplines.
• Candidate must be familiar with computer design tools including Keysight Genesys, Or CAD, MATLAB, PSPICE, or other tools.
• Must hold active Secret clearance and be eligible for TS/SCI.
• Must be able to 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.

• Experience in mmW frequency range design, wideband digitization, and low SWaP design is helpful.
• Active TS or TS/SCI clearance.

Salary Range: $190,000 – $215,000 annually. Onsite in Sparks, MD with a 9/80 schedule. Every other Friday OFF.

Security clearance:
Must hold active Secret clearance and be eligible for TS/SCI; must pass drug screening and background check. Only U.S. persons required.

IRF Solutions is a Disability/ Veterans Employer. IRF Solutions maintains a drug‑free workplace and performs pre‑employment substance abuse testing and background checks where permitted by law. Proof of employment authorization is required; no sponsorship for work visas.

As an equal opportunity employer, iRF Solutions is committed to a diverse workforce. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. Contact Denise Nocerino, d or (631) 272‑5814.