Senior RF/Antenna Design Engineer

CPI • Kilgore, TX

1d

About The Position

CPI is seeking a Senior RF / Antenna Design Engineer to lead the design and electromagnetic modeling of SATCOM antenna feed systems. This role is focused exclusively on hardware design — specifically antenna geometry, feed structures, and passive RF feed components. The emphasis is on electromagnetic theory, antenna shape optimization, feed architecture, and high-fidelity simulation using Ansys HFSS, TICRA, and other similar simulation software. The engineer will own antenna feed performance from mathematical modeling through hardware validation. YOUR DAY TO DAY: Antenna & Feed Design Design and optimize antenna feed systems including feed horns, waveguide transitions, polarizers, OMTs, and passive feed components. Perform electromagnetic modeling of antenna structures including geometry optimization and shape analysis. Calculate and model antenna dimensions based on performance requirements (gain, beamwidth, sidelobes, cross-polarization, efficiency). Conduct theoretical analysis of key antenna performance contributors. Electromagnetic Simulation & Analysis Use software like Ansys HFSS for full-wave 3D electromagnetic simulation and validation. Perform parametric modeling to refine antenna and feed performance. Analyze return loss, insertion loss, radiation patterns, isolation, and coupling. Validate design assumptions through simulation-driven iteration. Hardware Development & Validation Translate EM models into manufacturable hardware designs. Support fabrication and prototype validation. Troubleshoot performance deviations between modeled and measured results. Documentation & Technical Interface Generate technical documentation including RF block diagrams (feed-level), test procedures, analysis reports, and design documentation. Present antenna design performance during design reviews. Support cross-functional teams including mechanical and manufacturing engineering to ensure structural and thermal compatibility. Interface with customers, sales, and project managers to define and clarify requirements and specifications in quotes, proposals and technical interface meetings. YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS JOB IF YOU HAVE Required Qualifications U.S. Citizenship required (ITAR-controlled environment). Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (RF, Electromagnetics, or Antenna focus required). Advanced degree preferred. 10+ years of relevant experience. Deep expertise in electromagnetic theory and applied antenna mathematics. Extensive experience with Ansys HFSS or other full-wave EM simulation software suite. Strong mathematical background for calculating and modeling antenna geometry. Experience designing passive RF feed components. SHAPING THE FUTURE THROUGH INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY! With a history spanning more than seven decades, Communications & Power Industries’ thousands of products have impacted people’s lives in numerous unseen ways every day. Our highly engineered products serve as the backbone of modern-day commercial and military communications systems, assist in diagnosing medical conditions, empower scientific discoveries and space exploration, and much more. CPI is headquartered in Plano, Texas and is a global manufacturer of electronic components and subsystems. We have manufacturing locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. With a heritage of technological excellence, our team serves customers in the communications, defense, medical, industrial, and scientific markets. WHAT WE OFFER: Whether you are a seasoned professional or just embarking on your career, CPI is an ideal place to expand your knowledge and expertise. We cultivate a healthy, dynamic, and team-oriented environment that empowers our employees to develop, create and deliver innovative, reliable technology solutions to power, connect, protect, and support a better tomorrow. We offer our employees an attractive compensation package with competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including health and wellness programs, career development, generous retirement savings plan with company match and more! WHO WE ARE: We value the unique and diverse skills, qualities, and backgrounds that each employee brings to CPI, and we respect each employee as an integral member of our growing team. CPI is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all current and prospective employees, as well as to promoting a culture of inclusion and respect for everyone. We celebrate the innovation that diversity creates in the work environment, and we recognize that each employee brings their own unique capabilities, experiences, and perspectives to the organization. It is this variety that adds value to our teams, as well as to our stakeholders. We welcome and encourage applicants to reach their full potential with us. CPI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required (ITAR-controlled environment).
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (RF, Electromagnetics, or Antenna focus required).
• 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Deep expertise in electromagnetic theory and applied antenna mathematics.
• Extensive experience with Ansys HFSS or other full-wave EM simulation software suite.
• Strong mathematical background for calculating and modeling antenna geometry.
• Experience designing passive RF feed components.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize antenna feed systems including feed horns, waveguide transitions, polarizers, OMTs, and passive feed components.
• Perform electromagnetic modeling of antenna structures including geometry optimization and shape analysis.
• Calculate and model antenna dimensions based on performance requirements (gain, beamwidth, sidelobes, cross-polarization, efficiency).
• Conduct theoretical analysis of key antenna performance contributors.
• Use software like Ansys HFSS for full-wave 3D electromagnetic simulation and validation.
• Perform parametric modeling to refine antenna and feed performance.
• Analyze return loss, insertion loss, radiation patterns, isolation, and coupling.
• Validate design assumptions through simulation-driven iteration.
• Translate EM models into manufacturable hardware designs.
• Support fabrication and prototype validation.
• Troubleshoot performance deviations between modeled and measured results.
• Generate technical documentation including RF block diagrams (feed-level), test procedures, analysis reports, and design documentation.
• Present antenna design performance during design reviews.
• Support cross-functional teams including mechanical and manufacturing engineering to ensure structural and thermal compatibility.
• Interface with customers, sales, and project managers to define and clarify requirements and specifications in quotes, proposals and technical interface meetings.

Benefits

• attractive compensation package with competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including health and wellness programs, career development, generous retirement savings plan with company match and more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees