Electrical Engineer

Horizon Hobby•Champaign, IL

14d•$85,000 - $105,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Electrical Engineer supports the design and development of radio-control (RC) systems used in hobby-grade aircraft, vehicles, and other model products. It’s a great fit for an early-career engineer who enjoys hands-on work, creative problem-solving, and bringing practical engineering into the world of RC hobby electronics. This role will contribute to RF system design, PCB development, and supporting software that helps make RC models more reliable, responsive, and fun for customers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field (or equivalent hands-on experience).
Basic understanding of RF principles, antennas, and transmission-line behavior.
Experience with CAD tools for schematic capture and PCB layout.
Direct experience with Altium software (or equivalent) for board design.
Familiarity with at least one programming language (Python, C/C++, MATLAB, etc.).
Experience working with RF test equipment and learning measurement techniques.
Ability to design or support small, lightweight electronics.

Nice To Haves

Personal or professional experience with RC hobby products.
Familiarity with common RC radio systems (e.g., 2.4 GHz control links).
Experience with microcontrollers or embedded firmware.
Understanding of EMI/EMC basics in small electronics.
Comfort with hands-on prototyping and testing.

Responsibilities

RF System Development for RC Products — Designing and refining RF transmission systems for control links and onboard receivers. Support antenna tuning, range optimization, and interference reduction for typical hobby environments.
CAD Modeling & PCB Layout — Create schematics and PCB layouts for compact electronics used in RC models. Use CAD tools to ensure designs are lightweight, durable, and manufacturable.
Embedded & Support Software — Contribute to firmware updates, test scripts, and small utilities that support RF hardware and product testing.
Testing & Validation — Help perform RF measurements using standard test equipment. Participate in bench testing and controlled field evaluations to confirm performance and reliability.
Cross-Team Collaboration — Work with mechanical designers, product developers, and quality teams to integrate electronics into new RC models. Provide clear documentation and assist with troubleshooting.
Regulatory Support — Assist with basic FCC and international compliance tasks for consumer RF devices.
Continuous Improvement — Suggest and test new ideas to improve range, reliability, and user experience.
Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of the position.