Job Title: RF Engineer
Job Description
The RF Engineer will design, simulate, and validate advanced RF circuits and subsystems for next-generation air and ground-based systems. This role focuses on developing transmit/receive modules, up and down converters, RF beamforming networks, and related RF hardware while collaborating closely with cross-functional engineering teams. The position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge radar and electronic warfare technologies in a fast-paced R&D environment with strong benefits, including a pension.
Responsibilities
- Simulate and design RF circuits and subsystems for future air and ground-based systems, including transmit/receive modules, up and down converters, and RF beamforming networks.
- Develop and maintain RF design requirements derived from high-level system performance specifications.
- Perform detailed design trade studies, evaluating gain, output power, noise figure, cost, ease of manufacturing, and other key performance and production factors.
- Conduct bench-level evaluation, characterization, and troubleshooting of RF designs and subsystems to ensure performance and reliability.
- Collaborate closely with hardware, software, and systems engineering teams to drive the development and integration of RF subsystems and assemblies.
- Represent the organization in technical reviews, meetings, and formal design reviews, clearly communicating design decisions and technical status.
- Stay current with RF industry innovations, developments, and trends, and incorporate relevant advancements into designs and processes.
- Organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate engineering workloads to meet established deadlines and project milestones.
- Apply detailed and extensive technical expertise in RF engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice to complex design challenges.
- Interface effectively with internal departments, customers, government representatives, and other professionals through clear communication and presentations.
- Work independently with self-initiated tasks as well as collaboratively in team environments to support program objectives.
- Support radar and electronic warfare system development, including modules, subsystems, and antenna-related designs as needed.
Essential Skills
- Proven experience simulating and designing RF circuits, subsystems, and assemblies using tools such as MATLAB, ADS, HFSS, and/or CST.
- Strong working knowledge of RF PCB design and layout, including high-frequency considerations and clock distribution.
- Proficient in RF measurement techniques and skilled in operating standard lab equipment, including network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and other signal testing tools.
- Hands-on experience with RF engineering and RF design for radio frequency systems and subsystems.
- Experience with PCB design tools such as Altium and related workflows.
- Solid understanding of analog and digital circuits and digital design principles.
- Familiarity with circuit simulation tools such as PSpice and LTspice.
- Ability to quickly understand new concepts and apply them accurately in a fast-paced R&D environment.
- Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to interface effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
- Customer-focused mindset with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in team settings.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
- Typically requires a bachelor's, master's, or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution, or equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
- For degreed candidates, progressive engineering experience generally includes: eighteen or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree, sixteen or more years with a master's degree, or thirteen or more years with a PhD.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience designing modules and subsystems for radar systems and/or electronic warfare systems.
- Demonstrated experience designing and optimizing antennas for RF applications.
- Previous experience working with the Department of Defense or on DoD-related programs.
- Active security clearance, which is highly preferred.
- Experience with advanced RF simulation and electromagnetic analysis using tools such as HFSS and CST.
- Background in clock distribution and high-speed signal integrity in RF and mixed-signal designs.
- Experience participating in formal design reviews and technical customer meetings.
- Ability to contribute to continuous improvement by monitoring RF industry innovations and applying them to product development.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Tyngsborough, MA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $175000.00 - $250000.00/yr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
401k 8% match, Pension 6% roughly per year
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Tyngsborough,MA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.