Electrical Engineer RF Design

Quartermaster • Washington, DC

98d

About The Position

We are seeking an RF specialist Electrical Engineer to design and develop a custom Software Defined Radio (SDR) subsystem for the Smartmast platform, our edge-deployed maritime sensing system. You will lead the electrical design of our SDR hardware stack, including schematic development, RF layout, PCB fabrication, integration with compute systems, and field validation. This is a hands-on, cross-disciplinary role requiring deep understanding of RF signal chains, mixed-signal design, EMI mitigation, and high-speed digital interfaces.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, or related field
• 6+ years of experience in RF hardware design, with at least one full SDR or RF subsystem taken from concept to deployment
• Strong experience with schematic capture and RF-aware PCB layout using tools such as Orcad or Allegro
• Solid understanding of RF concepts: impedance matching, filter design, shielding, gain stages, and signal conditioning
• Familiarity with ADCs/DACs, digital interfaces (PCIe, SPI, LVDS), and high-speed layout constraints
• Hands-on experience with RF lab instrumentation (spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes)
• Comfort working in cross-functional teams with software, mechanical, and systems engineers

Nice To Haves

• Experience with marine communication bands, direction-finding, or defense-related RF systems
• Experience with Jupiter SDR reference design or Ettus USRP platforms

Responsibilities

• Design and document the electrical architecture for custom SDR modules, including RF front-end, clocking, ADC/DAC interfaces, and host connectivity
• Develop schematics and high-frequency PCB layouts optimized for signal integrity, low noise, and compact form factor in marine environments
• Coordinate with software engineers to validate digital interfaces and ensure clean RF signal paths from antenna to baseband
• Oversee fabrication and bring-up of SDR prototypes, including power-on testing, gain/loss verification, and calibration
• Perform lab validation using spectrum analyzers, VNAs, and signal generators to benchmark performance and tune system characteristics
• Address EMI/EMC considerations and assist in design-for-certification for marine or defense-grade environments
• Support antenna integration, placement, and impedance matching in close collaboration with mechanical and system engineers
• Maintain thorough documentation of schematics, BOMs, design iterations, test procedures, and calibration workflows
• Assist with integration into the larger Smartmast system, including coordination with power, networking, and compute subsystems

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Flexible work hours and the option for remote work
• Opportunities for professional development and continued education

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree