Director of Engineering, Electrical & RF Systems

Position Summary Flight Wave  (a subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings) is seeking a Director of Electrical & RF Systems Engineering to lead the architecture, execution, and scaling of electrical and radio systems across our UAS platforms.

This role owns the full hardware stack—from power systems, sensors, and embedded electronics to RF link performance and system-level integration. You will lead a multidisciplinary EE team while building a new RF systems capability focused on radio integration, link reliability, EMI/EMC performance, and real-world range optimization.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You’ll set technical direction, review designs, get into the lab when needed, and build a team that delivers reliable, production-ready systems ential Duties and Responsibilities Team Leadership & Org Build-Out Lead the Electrical Engineering team through the existing EE manager

Build and scale RF systems integration and test capability (new hires)
Set a high bar for technical rigor, ownership, and execution speed

Develop a culture of clear ownership, strong documentation, and high-quality output

Electrical & System Architecture Own electrical architecture across all platforms: power, compute, sensing, actuation, and interconnects

Lead design and integration of battery systems, BMS, power distribution, and PI performance

Set and enforce best practices for schematic design, PCB layout, bring-up, and validation

Ensure systems meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability targets from prototype through production RF Systems & Link Performance Own end-to-end RF system performance across air and ground systems (0.9–6 GHz and beyond)
Lead integration of tactical radios (e.g., Doodle Labs, Silvus) into complete systems

Drive link budgets, antenna selection/placement, and real-world range optimization

Optimize performance across varied and contested RF environments (urban, rural, high-interference)
Lead antenna characterization, OTA testing, and field validation campaigns

Drive coexistence strategies across onboard radios, payloads, and electronicsEMI/EMC & Compliance Own EMI/EMC performance from design through validation and certification

Lead pre-compliance testing and debug (radiated/conducted emissions, susceptibility, ESD)
Ensure compliance with FCC Part 15 and relevant military/industry standards

Establish design-for-compliance practices across the team Validation, Test & Field Performance Define and drive electrical and RF validation strategies (DVT, HALT, environmental, field testing)
Build and scale RF and electrical test capabilities (lab + field)
Ensure tight feedback loops between lab data and real-world system performance

Partner with flight test to validate full-system behavior under operational conditions

Cross-Functional Execution Drive system-level trade-offs across electrical, RF, mechanical, and software domains

Partner with Manufacturing on DFM/DFT and production readiness

Support supplier selection, integration, and issue resolution

Ensure electrical and RF considerations are embedded early in product decisions

Required Qualifications BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field
10+ years of experience in electrical engineering for embedded or electromechanical systems5+ years of technical leadership or management experience

Strong fundamentals across power electronics, PCB design, embedded systems, and system integration

Demonstrated experience with RF systems (radios, antennas, link performance, or wireless systems)
Experience bringing hardware from prototype through production

Comfortable operating at both system level and hands-on technical depth

Additional Desired Qualifications Tactical or mesh networking radios (e.g., Doodle Labs, Silvus)
UAS, robotics, aerospace, or defense systemsEMI/EMC compliance and certification workflows (FCC, MIL-STD, DO-160)
Antenna design, tuning, and measurement (gain patterns, polarization, MIMO)
High-power battery systems and BMS design

Field testing in complex RF environments

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.

Ability to stand, walk, and move between lab, office, and manufacturing environments for extended periods.

Manu…