Staff RF Engineer

CHAOS Industries•Hawthorne, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

CHAOS is seeking a Staff RF Engineer with deep expertise in RF circuit design to lead the design, analysis, integration, and verification of high-reliability RF and microwave electronics for aerospace and defense applications. This role works as part of a cross-functional, agile development team and spans the full product lifecycle, from early architecture and component trade studies through detailed design, testing, production support, and post-production sustainment of mission-critical systems. The ideal candidate is an experienced RF circuit designer with strong hands-on experience across RF boards, MMIC-based designs, packaging constraints, and test environments, and can provide sound technical judgment when balancing performance, risk, manufacturability, and schedule. This is a full-time, on-site position in Hawthorne, CA.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with 8+ years of progressively responsible RF engineering experience
Experience developing RF hardware for aerospace, defense, avionics, radar, EW, communications, or space systems
Strong understanding of RF fundamentals, including gain, noise figure, linearity, phase noise, stability, and impedance matching
Hands-on experience with RF test equipment (e.g., VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters)
Demonstrated ability to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve complex RF circuit performance issues
Strong attention to detail and ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, development-focused environments
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Nice To Haves

Advanced Degree (MS or PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or related discipline
Experience with power amplifier design, analysis, and integration
Familiarity with EMI/EMC considerations for RF systems and compliance with applicable aerospace standards
Experience with mixed-signal or RF/digital interfaces
Knowledge of manufacturing considerations for RF hardware, including tolerance analysis and yield drivers
Experience supporting production hardware and fielded systems
Experience with RF PCB layout best practices and design-for-manufacturing considerations
Familiarity with DO-160, MIL-STD-461, or similar aerospace/defense standards
Familiarity with RF antenna design principles

Responsibilities

Lead design, analysis, prototyping, and tuning of RF circuit boards incorporating catalog MMICs, including LNAs, power amplifiers, baluns, filters, mixers, and associated bias and matching networks
Perform architecture development and component trade studies to meet system-level RF performance requirements
Develop schematics, layouts, and design documentation in accordance with customer requirements, aerospace standards, and internal design practices
Conduct linear, nonlinear, and electromagnetic simulations using industry-standard tools (e.g., HFSS, ADS, AWR, or equivalent)
Support PCB layout (Altium) and RF stack-up definition, including impedance control, grounding, shielding, and isolation techniques
Plan and execute RF testing and characterization, including integration and troubleshooting at the board, module, and subsystem levels
Contribute to the design and specification of RF test equipment, fixtures, and automation
Collaborate with systems, power, digital, mechanical, and software engineers to ensure RF designs integrate cleanly within larger systems
Serve as a technical contributor from development through production and post-production, including failure analysis and field support