RF Engineer

RED CAT HOLDINGS•San Diego, CA

2d•$110,000 - $137,280•Onsite

About The Position

Apium Swarm Robotics (ASR) is revolutionizing swarm autonomy software for air, surface, undersea, and ground vehicles operating across dual-use commercial and defense environments. Our systems are deployed on real platforms, tested in the field, and delivered to customers operating in complex, uncertain, and safety-critical conditions. We do not build research prototypes or slideware. Our software is integrated into real vehicles, tested in the field, and delivered to customers who depend on operational reliability, speed of execution, and mission relevance. We prioritize performance over hype. ASR systems represent the next phase in autonomy: collaborative swarming. These are not like pre-programmed drones for light shows. We are creating real-time cooperative management that lets one operator control dozens to hundreds of vehicles in real-time with the ease of controlling a single vehicle. As such, this role requires comfort with responsibility, ambiguity, and operational accountability. The RF Engineer develops, documents, and improves the production processes that build Apium’s family of unmanned systems across the USV, drone, dongle, GCS, and operator-kit product lines. Working between design engineering and the production floor, the role owns work instructions, tooling and fixtures, process validation, and yield and throughput improvement, and leads the transition of new products from prototype into rate production. This position is central to building a scalable, AS9100-compliant manufacturing operation as production volumes grow. You will report directly to ASR’s Senior Engineering Manager, Manufacturing & Operations, and will partner across design engineering, quality, supply chain, and the production floor to mature ASR’s manufacturing capability. This role is based on-site at ASR’s San Diego, California facility. The floor-facing nature of process engineering — pilot builds, fixture design, work-instruction validation, and root-cause troubleshooting — requires full on-site presence and is not compatible with remote or hybrid arrangements.

Requirements

Must be a US Citizen
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, or a related field
Strong understanding of RF and microwave theory, including S-parameters, impedance matching, link budgets, and transmission line theory
Experience designing and testing RF communication links, transceivers, and datalinks for wireless or unmanned systems
Working knowledge of digital communication and waveform fundamentals (modulation, coding, spread spectrum, frequency hopping)
Familiarity with mesh networking and MANET concepts as applied to mobile, multi-node systems
Proficiency with RF test equipment such as vector network analyzers (VNAs), spectrum analyzers, and signal generators
Experience with RF simulation and design tools (e.g., ADS, HFSS, CST, AWR, MATLAB/Simulink)
Understanding of key RF link metrics including noise figure, sensitivity, linearity (IP3), gain, EVM, and BER
Knowledge of relevant standards and spectrum regulations (FCC Part 15, NTIA, ETSI, IEEE)
Awareness of SWaP trade-offs specific to airborne and mobile platforms
Understanding of video multiplexing, telemetry, CDMA protocol, LORA
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills

Nice To Haves

Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering with an RF/microwave or communications focus
Direct experience with unmanned systems (UAS/UGV/UUV/USV) datalinks or multi-agent autonomous systems
Experience with anti-jam, LPI/LPD, and electronic-warfare-resilient communications
Familiarity with software-defined radios (SDRs) and waveform development (e.g., GNU Radio, USRP/Ettus platforms)
Experience with phased-array, beamforming, or beam-steering antennas for mobile link maintenance
Knowledge of MANET routing protocols and RF network performance in dynamic, mobile topologies
Experience with GPS/GNSS anti-jam and anti-spoof techniques
Familiarity with mmWave and higher-frequency links for high-bandwidth payload data
Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for test automation, waveform analysis, and link modeling
Experience taking RF products through regulatory certification and DoD/military spectrum coordination
Familiarity with military communication standards and waveforms (e.g., Link 16, TSM, MUOS, or similar tactical waveforms)
Active DoD security clearance or ability to obtain one

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and optimize RF communication links for unmanned systems, including command-and-control (C2), telemetry, and payload/data downlinks
Develop resilient datalink architectures for multi-agent architectures, including mesh networking and mobile ad-hoc networks (MANET) that maintain connectivity as nodes move and drop out.
Design RF systems that meet strict Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) constraints for airborne, ground, and maritime unmanned platforms.
Engineer anti-jam, low-probability-of-intercept/low-probability-of-detection (LPI/LPD), and spread-spectrum (DSSS/FHSS) waveforms and links for contested/congested RF environments.
Perform link budget, range, and coverage analysis for distributed topologies, including node-to-node and node-to-ground-station links
Design and integrate antennas for unmanned platforms, including omnidirectional, directional, and steerable/phased-array solutions for maintaining links during platform maneuvering
Conduct field and flight testing of RF links, including range testing, interference characterization, and multi-node connectivity trials
Characterize and mitigate co-site interference and EMI/EMC issues arising from densely packed radios, payloads, and motors on a single platform and across nearby members
Support GPS/GNSS integration and mitigation of jamming/spoofing for navigation-dependent autonomous operations
Troubleshoot and debug RF and datalink issues at the component, board, platform, and network level
Collaborate with autonomy, firmware, systems, and flight-controls teams to align RF performance with coordination and mission requirements
Support regulatory compliance and spectrum management (FCC, NTIA, DoD spectrum coordination) and transition designs from prototype to production