Sr. RF Test Engineer (Hybrid- APG, MD)
About The Position
Fairwinds Technologies is seeking a highly skilled RF Test Engineer with deep expertise in 5G Layer 1 (L1) integration and testing, including familiarity with 3GPP and ORAN standards, test methodologies, and automation frameworks. This role will lead the definition, development, and execution of RF test strategies for tactical radios, SATCOM systems, and emerging 5G platforms. You’ll collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to ensure system-level verification, performance characterization, and mission readiness in lab and field environments. This position emphasizes technical leadership, automation, and continuous improvement. This role reports to the Chief Technology & Strategy Office and involves close collaboration with customers, Systems Engineering, Hardware, and Software teams to ensure requirements verification, performance characterization, and mission readiness across lab and occasional field environments.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- Proven experience in 5G L1 integration and testing, including knowledge of 3GPP and ORAN standards.
- Strong proficiency in RF/microwave measurements and instrumentation.
- Advanced Python skills for test automation and data analysis.
- Familiarity with RF schematics, ICDs, link budgets, and antenna patterns.
- Experience with version control systems (Git/SVN) and disciplined documentation practices.
- U.S. work eligibility and ability to obtain/maintain DoD SECRET clearance.
- 7–10+ years of progressively responsible experience in RF test engineering across lab and/or field environments, including:
- Hands-on testing and automation
- 5G L1 integration and verification
- Familiarity with 3GPP and ORAN standards
- Tactical radio and SATCOM systems
Nice To Haves
- Experience with tactical radios (SINCGARS, SRW, TSM, MUOS) and SATCOM terminals (GEO/MEO/LEO).
- Exposure to environmental and EMI/EMC testing.
- Familiarity with MATLAB, LabVIEW, NI PXI, Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz, Tektronix, Spirent.
- CI/CD experience for test automation and regression testing.
- Prior leadership in test campaigns and mentoring roles.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute RF test strategies aligned with system requirements, interface specs, and compliance standards (including 3GPP and ORAN).
- Architect and maintain test environments for 5G L1 and RF systems, including signal chains, fixtures, and instrumentation.
- Author formal test procedures, readiness reviews, and reports; ensure traceability and version control.
- Perform RF measurements across 30 MHz–40 GHz using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and other tools.
- Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for test anomalies; apply statistical methods and trend analysis.
- Build and maintain automated test frameworks using Python (SCPI, PyVISA, etc.); integrate dashboards and data pipelines.
- Conduct integration and field testing for tactical radios (e.g., SRW, TSM) and SATCOM terminals (e.g., Ka/Ku/X-band).
- Mentor junior engineers and technicians in RF testing and automation practices.
- Support compliance efforts (e.g., MIL-STD, EMI/EMC pre-certification) and coordinate with external labs.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Professional development and growth opportunities.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
