RF Systems and Integration Engineer

Staff RF Systems and Integration Engineer

Torrance, CA 90503

Salary Range $ - $ Salary

Position Summary

Flight Wave builds high-performance small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for defense, public safety, and national security customers. Our systems operate in real-world, RF-contested environments where link reliability, throughput, and user experience are mission-critical.

We move fast, test early, and put hardware in the air constantly.

We're looking for a Staff RF Systems & Integration Engineer to own and elevate the performance of our wireless communication systems end-to-end.

This is a hands-on systems role spanning RF, embedded networking, and real-world integration—focused on ensuring robust, high-throughput, low-latency links across dynamic and challenging environments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end communications system performance, including range, reliability, throughput, and latency
• Integrate and optimize tactical radios (e.g., Doodle Labs, Silvus, or similar), including band selection, power, and configuration tradeoffs
• Design and improve mesh networking (MANET) performance, including multi-hop behavior, routing stability, and network resiliency
• Develop systems that perform in congested and contested RF environments, including interference avoidance and dynamic link adaptation
• Lead antenna selection and integration, including placement, radiation patterns, polarization, and real-world mounting effects
• Diagnose and resolve issues across RF, hardware, firmware, and networking layers
• Plan and execute field testing (range, interference, stress scenarios) and translate results into actionable improvements
• Identify and mitigate EMI/EMC issues and support FCC/system-level compliance efforts
• Partner cross-functionally with electrical, software, and flight engineering teams to drive system-level performance

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in RF systems, wireless communications, or related field
• Hands-on experience integrating and optimizing wireless communication systems in real products
• Experience with multi-node wireless systems or mesh/MANET-based radios, including understanding of multi-hop networking behavior.
• Experience in wireless networking fundamentals (IP-based systems, routing, latency/throughput tradeoffs)
• Experience debugging complex issues across multiple system layers (RF hardware + software + networking)
• Practical experience with antenna systems and RF hardware integration, including:
• Understanding of antenna gain, polarization, and radiation patterns
• Awareness of how placement, orientation, and platform integration impact real-world performance
• Experience minimizing RF losses (cabling, connectors, layout considerations)

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Experience with small UAS, robotics, or mobile systems
• Experience with industry specific radio platforms (Doodle Labs, Silvus, Persistent, etc.)
• Experience with adaptive RF systems, including dynamic spectrum management and interference mitigation
• Experience with multi-band radio systems (e.g., L/S/C bands, ISM band( 900MHz/2.4/5 GHz)
• Exposure to EMI/EMC testing and FCC Part 15 compliance
• Ability to identify and mitigate electrical noise and interference sources affecting RF performance (power systems, digital electronics, cabling, etc.)
• Experience with video/data transmission over wireless links (ISR, streaming, etc.)
• Background in defense, public safety, or mission-critical communications environments

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, and move between lab, office, flight fields, and manufacturing environments for extended periods.
• Manual dexterity for handling tools, components, and test equipment.
• Visual and hearing ability to safely conduct and monitor test procedures.
• Ability to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when required.
• Comfortable working in environments that may involve vibration, noise, temperature variations, or other test-related conditions

Background Check

This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be…