Sr. RF Systems and Integration Engineer

FW ACQUISITION INC•Torrance, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

FlightWave builds high-performance small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for defense, public safety, and national security customers. Their systems operate in real-world, RF-contested environments where link reliability, throughput, and user experience are mission-critical. The company moves fast, tests early, and constantly puts hardware in the air. They are seeking a Sr. RF Systems & Integration Engineer to own and elevate the performance of their wireless communication systems end-to-end. This is a hands-on systems role spanning RF, embedded networking, and real-world integration, focused on ensuring robust, high-throughput, low-latency links across dynamic and challenging environments.

Requirements

6+ years of experience in RF systems, wireless communications, or related field
Hands-on experience integrating and optimizing wireless communication systems in real products
Experience with multi-node wireless systems or mesh/MANET-based radios, including understanding of multi-hop networking behavior.
Experience in wireless networking fundamentals (IP-based systems, routing, latency/throughput tradeoffs)
Experience debugging complex issues across multiple system layers (RF hardware + software + networking)
Practical experience with antenna systems and RF hardware integration, including: Understanding of antenna gain, polarization, and radiation patterns, Awareness of how placement, orientation, and platform integration impact real-world performance, Experience minimizing RF losses (cabling, connectors, layout considerations)

Nice To Haves

Experience with small UAS, robotics, or mobile systems
Experience with industry specific radio platforms (Doodle Labs, Silvus, Persistent, etc.)
Experience with adaptive RF systems, including dynamic spectrum management and interference mitigation
Experience with multi-band radio systems (e.g., L/S/C bands, ISM band( 900MHz/2.4/5 GHz)
Exposure to EMI/EMC testing and FCC Part 15 compliance
Ability to identify and mitigate electrical noise and interference sources affecting RF performance (power systems, digital electronics, cabling, etc.)
Experience with video/data transmission over wireless links (ISR, streaming, etc.)
Background in defense, public safety, or mission-critical communications environments

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end communications system performance, including range, reliability, throughput, and latency
Integrate and optimize tactical radios (e.g., Doodle Labs, Silvus, or similar), including band selection, power, and configuration tradeoffs
Design and improve mesh networking (MANET) performance, including multi-hop behavior, routing stability, and network resiliency
Develop systems that perform in congested and contested RF environments, including interference avoidance and dynamic link adaptation
Lead antenna selection and integration, including placement, radiation patterns, polarization, and real-world mounting effects
Diagnose and resolve issues across RF, hardware, firmware, and networking layers
Plan and execute field testing (range, interference, stress scenarios) and translate results into actionable improvements
Identify and mitigate EMI/EMC issues and support FCC/system-level compliance efforts
Partner cross-functionally with electrical, software, and flight engineering teams to drive system-level performance