Senior RF Design Engineer

Skydio•San Mateo, CA

1d•$170,000 - $240,000

About The Position

Skydio’s RF systems connect users to our autonomous ecosystem and are foundation to the performance, reliability, and scalability of our products. As intelligent flying machines become increasingly autonomous, the demands on wireless connectivity, range, bandwidth, coexistence, and robustness continue to grow. This role offers a unique opportunity to drive innovation across existing and next-generation RF architectures while delivering highly engineered products at scale. We are looking for a highly experienced Wireless Systems Engineer with deep expertise in cellular hardware development and RF system integration. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience bringing complex wireless products from architecture through production, including extensive experience with LTE/cellular integration, carrier certification, and PTCRB certification validation. Skydio’s highly integrated electromechanical systems present rich cross-functional engineering challenges and provide an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of autonomous systems.

Requirements

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field
7+ years of hands-on experience developing wireless consumer or embedded products with complex RF systems
Strong cellular hardware development experience is required, including LTE modem integration, RF front-end architecture, carrier requirements, and system bring-up/debug
Deep technical understanding of one or more wireless technologies including LTE/cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS/GNSS, and related coexistence challenges
Strong understanding of RF desense mechanisms, EMI/EMC mitigation, radiated/conducted coupling, and system-level integration challenges
Experience with analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuit design and analysis
Experience with PCB schematic review, layout guidance, RF routing, grounding, shielding, and power integrity best practices
Proven experience debugging and optimizing wireless system performance in highly integrated products
Hands-on experience with RF lab equipment including network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, CMW500, signal generators, power meters, near-field probes, and OTA test systems
Experience using RF simulation and modeling tools such as Ansys HFSS and Keysight ADS
Experience performing and analyzing TRP, TIS, OTA, throughput, and Rate vs. Range measurements
Strong understanding of manufacturing test, production calibration, and wireless validation workflows
Ability to independently drive complex technical problems across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced development environment

Nice To Haves

Extensive experience supporting products through PTCRB and carrier certification processes is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Collaborate closely with EE, RF, antenna, mechanical, ID, and systems teams to optimize end-to-end wireless system performance
Define system-level wireless architecture, requirements, specifications, and performance targets
Design, integrate, and validate wireless solutions across multiple radio technologies and frequency bands, including LTE/5G cellular systems
Lead cellular hardware integration efforts from early architecture through bring-up, debugging, optimization, certification, and production ramp
Drive RF coexistence and desense analysis across tightly integrated wireless subsystems
Perform detailed circuit-level analysis to debug RF performance, interference, and desense issues, and characterize aggressor/victim relationships
Identify and mitigate noise sources impacting wireless performance at both board and system levels
Support end-to-end product development from concept, prototyping, and validation through qualification, carrier certification, PTCRB, regulatory approval, and manufacturing test
Develop and execute wireless performance characterization plans, including TRP/TIS, OTA, throughput, range, and coexistence testing
Partner with external module vendors, certification labs, and carriers to ensure successful cellular integration and compliance