Rf Circuit Design Engineer

This role focuses on designing and developing RF electronic circuits as part of a multidisciplinary product development team. You will work on systems that integrate analog and digital circuitry, power electronics, and high‑reliability RF hardware, particularly in the 5 GHz range. The position involves full lifecycle hardware development from concept through design, testing, and fielding, including board‑level RF design, schematic capture, PCB layout, and test automation using scripting languages.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF electronic circuits, including board‑level RF front ends, down converters, and digitization paths for high‑reliability systems.
• Perform detailed hardware layout and schematic capture for RF, analog, digital, and power electronic circuits using industry‑standard tools.
• Develop and maintain interface control documents (ICDs) between different system components to ensure proper integration.
• Utilize scripting and software development in C, C , and/or Python to control rack‑and‑stack test equipment for validating and verifying high‑reliability spaceflight and related hardware.
• Create, execute, and refine automated test scripts to validate that test software functions correctly and meets defined test objectives.
• Troubleshoot RF, analog, digital, and power hardware in the lab using standard benchtop instruments and simulation tools, diagnosing and resolving circuit‑level issues.
• Conduct board‑level testing, including verification and validation of high‑reliability hardware such as satellite receivers and related RF systems.
• Work through the complete hardware development lifecycle, from initial concepts and architecture through detailed design, prototyping, testing, and support to fielding.
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team, coordinating design activities and ensuring alignment across RF, digital, embedded, and systems engineering disciplines.
• Communicate technical updates, design decisions, test results, and risk assessments clearly and regularly to project stakeholders.
• Support meeting program milestones by delivering hardware and test results on schedule in a fully funded program environment.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of design practices, test methodologies, and documentation for high‑reliability RF systems.

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from an accredited institution.
• Approximately 8 or more years of experience in electrical engineering, with a focus on hardware design.
• Hands‑on experience with RF circuit design at the board level, including RF front ends, up/down converters, antennas, receivers, and digitization paths.
• Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout for RF, analog, and digital circuits, including experience with tools such as Cadence Allegro or similar design software.
• Experience designing or supporting satellite receivers or similar RF systems with down conversion and digitization.
• Familiarity with high‑frequency RF systems, particularly around 5 GHz and above.
• Experience validating and verifying high‑reliability hardware through structured testing, ideally in domains such as spaceflight, aerospace, defense, or other high‑reliability applications.
• Strong hardware troubleshooting skills in a lab environment, including the use of oscilloscopes, signal generators, power supplies, multimeters, and related benchtop equipment.
• Solid understanding of analog and digital circuit design principles, including PCB layout considerations for RF and mixed‑signal designs.
• Ability to coordinate with multidisciplinary teams and communicate technical information clearly, both verbally and in written form.

• Experience with high‑reliability systems such as space, aerospace, defense, or similar industries where rigorous verification and validation are required.
• Hands‑on experience with C, C , and/or Python for scripting and test automation of rack‑and‑stack test equipment.
• Background in embedded systems and hardware‑related software integration.
• Experience with board‑level testing, including development and execution of automated test scripts.
• Familiarity with A/D and D/A conversion, PWM, digital I/O, and various communication interfaces used in embedded and RF systems.
• Experience working with C‑band RF systems and higher frequency platforms (5 GHz or higher).
• Knowledge of RF antennas, receivers, and associated front‑end architectures.
• Experience with simulation suites and EDA tools for RF, analog, and digital design.
• Ability to work effectively on fully funded, schedule‑driven programs and support timely delivery of hardware milestones.

You will work in a laboratory and office environment focused on developing a new RF receiver engineering development unit operating around 5 GHz. The role involves frequent use of standard lab benchtop test equipment such as signal generators, oscilloscopes, power supplies, and multimeters, as well as rack‑and‑stack automated test setups. You will use professional EDA tools, including schematic capture and PCB layout software such as Cadence Allegro or comparable platforms, along with RF and circuit simulation suites. The work centers on high‑reliability RF and mixed‑signal hardware for demanding applications, with clearly defined program milestones and fully funded projects that emphasize on‑time hardware delivery. Collaboration with a multidisciplinary engineering team is integral, and you can expect a technically challenging, fast‑paced environment where design, test, and integration activities occur throughout the hardware lifecycle.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Bethesda, MD.

The pay range for this position is $59.00 - $80.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a hybrid position in Bethesda,MD.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $59 - $80