Assistant Research Engineer (Radio Frequency & Sensing Systems)

University of Maryland•College Park, MD

15d•$90,000 - $115,000•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Maryland (UMD) Maryland Autonomous Technologies Research Innovation and eXploration Lab (MATRIX Lab) is seeking an Assistant Research Engineer specializing in Radio Frequency & Sensing Systems. This role conducts applied and translational research at the intersection of RF/microwave engineering, multi-domain sensing, and autonomous systems integration. The position is based at the MATRIX Lab facilities in California, MD, and reports to Lab leadership. The successful candidate will lead and support the development of RF-enabled communication, sensing, and electronic warfare-resilient capabilities, leveraging the lab's physical research infrastructure. This full-time research appointment is ideal for a researcher with a strong background in RF/microwave systems, low size, weight, and power (SWaP) electronics, and defense-relevant sensing, aiming to translate expertise into deployable autonomous platform capabilities.

Requirements

M.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication or equivalent technical deliverable is required.
Hands-on experience with RF measurement instrumentation and controlled laboratory environments is required.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team operating across concurrent sponsored projects with varying timelines and deliverable requirements
Strong written and oral communication skills, including demonstrated ability to author technical reports, conference papers, and journal articles
Ability to manage and prioritize research and laboratory tasks across multiple active projects with competing deadlines
Commitment to responsible research conduct, laboratory safety, and sensitivity to a culturally and ethnically diverse academic and research community
Must be eligible to work on U.S. government-sponsored defense research; U.S. citizenship or permanent residency preferred

Nice To Haves

A Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a closely related field is preferred.
Depth in one or more of the following areas: RF/microwave circuit design, millimeter-wave or sub-THz systems, antenna design and characterization, radar systems, acoustic sensing, or underwater electromagnetic propagation, with demonstrated ability to connect circuit- or system-level work to platform-level integration challenges
Familiarity with the theoretical foundations underlying RF and sensing systems, including electromagnetic theory, signal propagation, noise and interference modeling, and nonlinear circuit behavior, enabling principled design and troubleshooting across novel problem settings
Experience working across the hardware development pipeline from simulation or board-level design through prototyping, measurement, and system integration on physical platforms
Exposure to constraints specific to defense-relevant hardware development, such as environmental hardening, radiation tolerance, electromagnetic hardening, or export-controlled technology considerations
Familiarity with heterogeneous integration, advanced packaging, or multi-chip module approaches for combining sensing, processing, and communication functions in compact form factors is a plus
Comfort operating RF and microwave test and measurement equipment including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and near-field or far-field antenna range instrumentation
Experience designing and executing controlled measurement campaigns in anechoic chambers or shielded environments, including proper calibration, uncertainty quantification, and documentation practices
Familiarity with acoustic measurement systems, hydrophones, or underwater sensing instrumentation is a plus
Experience with tools for RF circuit simulation and layout (e.g., Cadence, Keysight ADS, ANSYS HFSS, or equivalent)
Track record of translating research outputs into tangible artifacts, such as functional prototypes, transition-ready hardware, open-source design files, or technical data packages, beyond peer-reviewed publication alone
Experience briefing hardware and systems-level technical work to non-technical or mixed audiences, including government program managers, operational end users, or acquisition stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to scope and self-manage hardware research tasks with limited supervision, including managing procurement, vendor coordination, and lab safety requirements for specialized equipment
General familiarity with the federal defense research and acquisition ecosystem and how university-based applied RF and sensing research connects to sponsor mission needs, technology transition pathways, and program objectives
Awareness of relevant operational contexts for RF and sensing systems, including electronic warfare, GPS-denied navigation, multi-domain communications, and contested spectrum environments relevant to Navy and joint service missions
Awareness of responsible research, export control (ITAR/EAR), and dual-use technology considerations applicable to defense-relevant RF and sensing hardware development

Responsibilities

Leading research and experimental activities in the MATRIX Lab anechoic chamber, including antenna characterization, RF system performance evaluation, radar cross-section measurement, electromagnetic compatibility testing, and validation of communication and sensing payloads intended for autonomous platform integration.
Developing and evaluating low-SWaP RF sensing and communication architectures, including wake-up receivers, millimeter-wave transceivers, radar front-ends, and passive or backscatter-based sensing systems, suitable for deployment on size-, weight-, and power-constrained aerial, maritime, and underwater autonomous vehicles.
Designing and conducting multi-domain sensing experiments in the Omni-domain Autonomous Systems Integration Space (OASIS) and Hydrodynamics Lab, integrating RF, optical, acoustic, and inertial sensing modalities on autonomous platforms operating in GPS-denied and electromagnetically complex environments.
Utilizing the Hydrodynamics Lab water tunnel and related facilities to characterize underwater acoustic and RF propagation, evaluate submerged sensor performance, and support the development of sensing and communication payloads for autonomous underwater vehicle applications.
Developing resilient RF and electronic systems capable of operating reliably under environmental extremes, interference, jamming, or electronic warfare conditions relevant to contested maritime and aerial operational environments.
Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams including UMD faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, defense industry partners, and Navy program stakeholders to integrate RF and sensing capabilities into broader autonomous systems architectures and mission workflows.
Supporting proof-of-concept prototyping and transition of RF/sensing subsystems from bench-level demonstration through integration with autonomous platforms tested in MATRIX Lab facilities, translating laboratory results into sponsor-relevant deliverables.
Preparing technical deliverables and briefings for government and industry stakeholders, translating complex hardware and systems-level research into clear, decision-relevant products such as reports, slide briefings, demonstration summaries, and white papers.
Leading technical proposal writing and contributing to sponsored research proposals and technical work plans, including scoping technical approaches, estimating level of effort, identifying risks, and supporting engagement with federal sponsors such as ONR, NAWCAD, Air Force Research Laboratory, etc.
Mentoring graduate and undergraduate student researchers, providing technical guidance on RF circuit design, antenna systems, experimental measurement techniques, and research communication.