Director of RF & Electrical Systems Engineering

In this role, you’ll lead the architecture, execution and scaling of electrical and radio systems across the company’s UAS platforms, owning the full hardware stack from power systems, sensors and embedded electronics to RF link performance and system-level integration. You’ll lead a multidisciplinary electrical engineering team while building a new RF systems capability focused on radio integration, link reliability, EMI/EMC performance and real-world range optimization.

Eleven Recruiting is searching for a Director of Electrical & RF Systems Engineering for a growing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) manufacturer in the greater Los Angeles area. In this role, you’ll lead the architecture, execution and scaling of electrical and radio systems across the company’s UAS platforms, owning the full hardware stack from power systems, sensors and embedded electronics to RF link performance and system-level integration. You’ll lead a multidisciplinary electrical engineering 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 at speed.
  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, including 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 power integrity (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 and placement, and real-world range optimization.
• Optimize performance across varied and contested RF environments (urban, rural, high-interference).
• Lead antenna characterization, over-the-air (OTA) testing and field validation campaigns.
• Drive coexistence strategies across onboard radios, payloads and electronics.

EMI/EMC & Compliance

• Own EMI/EMC performance from design through validation and certification.
• Lead pre-compliance testing and debug, including radiated and conducted emissions, susceptibility and ESD.
• Ensure compliance with FCC Part 15 and relevant military and industry standards.
• Establish design-for-compliance practices across the team.

Validation, Test & Field Performance

• Define and drive electrical and RF validation strategies, including DVT, HALT, environmental and field testing.
• Build and scale RF and electrical test capabilities in the lab and the 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 a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in electrical engineering for embedded or electromechanical systems.
• 5+ 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Tactical or mesh networking radios (e.g., Doodle Labs, Silvus).
• UAS, robotics, aerospace or defense systems experience.
• EMI/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.

Salary: $200,000 - $210,000

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