
Principal RF Engineer
Required skills
- RF circuits
- passive devices
- active devices
- RF product PCBs
- Platform integration
- Benchtop bring-up
- RF test equipment
- EMI/EMC test equipment
- Field testing
- results analysis
Nice to have
- Altium
- PCB material sciences
- hardware projects
- mentor junior RF engineers
Role summary
Heaviside Industries is seeking a Principal RF Engineer to design complex RF circuits for precision munitions operating in GPS-denied and spectrum-jammed battlefields. This role involves platform integration, benchtop and field testing, and creating verification plans. The ideal candidate has 10+ years of experience in RF system design, a background in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis on RF theory, and hands-on experience with design, prototyping, and debugging RF circuits. Expertise in multi-stage conversion chains, LO synthesis, mixer optimization, and LNA design is required. Experience with simulation tools like ADS and working with firmware/DSP engineers is also necessary. The role is based in Los Angeles, CA.
ABOUT HEAVISIDE INDUSTRIES
Heaviside Industries builds multi-domain autonomous precision munitions for U.S. and allied special operations and conventional forces. While modern warfare has rapidly evolved with the proliferation of unmanned systems, hyper-precise munitions in contested environments are the future of the battlefield. Economical precision strike capabilities are critical to U.S. and allied war efforts, enabling successful defeat of enemy military assets and infrastructure. Heaviside builds precision munitions designed to operate in GPS-denied and spectrum-jammed battlefields—where traditional systems degrade or fail—without inflated prices or sacrifice to performance.
All engineering and manufacturing is conducted in-house in Heaviside’s Los Angeles, CA headquarters and Oslo, Norway office.
Heaviside is backed by Interlagos, Menlo Ventures, Flume Ventures, Cantos, Anorak Ventures, and Ravelin Ventures.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Design complex RF circuits for passive and active devices
Work with electrical engineering to prototype new RF product PCBs
Platform integration
Benchtop bring-up with RF and EMI/EMC test equipment
Field testing and results analysis
Create and execute verification and validation plans for complete product field testing
Plan new product and feature development plans and present them to stakeholders.
Assist with the transition from development to manufacturing
Work with customers to understand how to technically improve RF sub-system performance
Work with cross discipline engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, software)
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
10+ year’s experience designing complex RF systems
Background in Electrical Engineering with a strong emphasis on electromagnetic, and/or RF theory or equivalent project work
Hands on experience designing, prototyping, bench-top bring-up and probe analysis of RF circuits
Deep experience working with debugging and RF analysis equipment
Demonstrable experience designing low size, weight and power RF circuit end products
Experience designing and bringing a new RF product from concept to market release as an individual contributor engineer
Must be an expert in multi-stage conversion chains including Local Oscillators (LO) synthesis and mixer optimization
Demonstrable experience designing RF products with Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA)and doing multistage cascade analysis
Hands on experience working simulation tools such as ADS, and other common industry software
Ability to engage technically with firmware, DSP and other software engineers to optimize the front-end interface
Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills to author technical proposals for customers
History of working with cross discipline engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, software).
Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
[BONUS] Experience designing PCBs and PCB material sciences with Altium
[BONUS] Able to discuss in depth any at-home hardware projects current or past.
[BONUS] Proven ability to mentor more junior RF engineers.
Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Heaviside is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Heaviside is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, physical disability or any other legally protected status.
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