Radio Frequency (RF) Technician

Austin Sensing Company•Austin, TX

About The Position

Austin Sensing Company builds radar, acoustic, and RF sensors for defense, public safety, critical infrastructure, and autonomous systems. It designs and manufactures hardware in Austin, Texas, with a focus on reliable, affordable, and widely available high-performance sensing. The RF Technician assembles, tests, and troubleshoots RF hardware for radar and sensing systems, working directly with RF engineers on prototypes, test setups, calibration, and production hardware. This is a hands-on lab role involving RF measurements, assembly inspection, and investigating hardware performance issues. The technician is expected to handle equipment carefully, understand RF measurement techniques, and produce trustworthy results for the engineering team.

Requirements

Experience testing, assembling, or repairing RF electronics.
Hands-on experience with spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, and signal generators.
A working understanding of impedance, decibels, gain, attenuation, reflections, and RF power.
Ability to follow schematics, assembly drawings, and test procedures.
Experience working with coaxial cables and RF connectors, including proper handling and torque.
Ability to recognize measurement errors and distinguish test setup problems from hardware failures.
Careful workmanship, clear documentation, and a methodical approach to troubleshooting.
Comfort working closely with engineers on prototype and production hardware.

Nice To Haves

Experience with radar, microwave electronics, antennas, or wireless communications hardware.
Experience measuring S-parameters and testing amplifiers, filters, mixers, or receivers.
Familiarity with antenna measurements and shielded or anechoic test environments.
Experience with PCB soldering and rework under a microscope.
Experience running automated tests using Python or instrument-control software.
Technical training, an associate degree in electronics, military electronics training, or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

Assemble and inspect RF hardware, including circuit boards, antennas, coaxial cables, connectors, and associated components.
Set up and run tests using spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, signal generators, power meters, and oscilloscopes.
Measure gain, loss, return loss, frequency response, output power, and other RF performance characteristics.
Calibrate instruments and account for cable loss, adapters, and test setup effects.
Support RF engineers during board bring-up, tuning, and troubleshooting.
Build and maintain RF test setups, fixtures, and cable assemblies for development and production.
Perform soldering, rework, and hardware modifications according to engineering instructions.
Troubleshoot failed assemblies, documenting symptoms, measurements, and repairs.
Run acceptance tests and flag hardware that falls outside specified limits.
Record hardware revisions, serial numbers, test configurations, and results.
Maintain lab equipment and follow ESD controls, connector care, and safe RF testing practices.