RF Engineer – Hardware Development

About the Company

Our client is a seed-stage startup building a new class of distributed sensing systems enabled by modern RF, communications, and real-time processing infrastructure.

Traditional sensing systems are often expensive, centralized, and increasingly vulnerable in modern operating environments. Our client is taking a different approach, developing systems designed to be more scalable, resilient, and deployable across a wide range of conditions.

Recent advances in satellite and communications infrastructure have created a meaningful shift in the availability of RF signals globally. Our client is leveraging these conditions to enable sensing capabilities that were previously impractical to deploy at scale.

The long-term vision is a low-cost, distributed sensing layer that can be deployed broadly rather than relying on a small number of high-cost systems. This enables more persistent awareness, greater resilience, and new capabilities across defense and commercial applications.

They are currently in a rapid build phase, working toward an early system demonstration with strong interest and backing from government and commercial stakeholders.

This is a unique opportunity to join at the ground floor of a high-caliber founding team composed of former SpaceX and Capella engineers, building a system with real traction.

This is a direct hire, permanent placement position for a client of AdAstra Talent Advisors. This position is based in San Francisco, CA. More company details will be shared during an initial call.

About the Role

Our client is seeking a hands-on RF Engineer to support the development of advanced RF hardware, antenna systems, and multichannel receiver platforms for a novel distributed sensing system.

This role owns RF hardware development from simulation and component selection through laboratory characterization, system integration, and field testing.

This is a highly hands-on role built around strong RF fundamentals and practical laboratory work. You will work directly with development hardware, lab equipment, and real-world testing environments to design, build, test, and troubleshoot RF systems.

This is one of the first two hires on the new Hardware Engineering team, reporting directly to the Head of Hardware. You will collaborate closely with a small, highly technical team building custom phased-array hardware for the company's production system.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, build, and test RF front-end, antenna, and multichannel receiver hardware — from component selection through subarrays, feed networks, and modular RF architectures

• Select and evaluate RF components including LNAs, filters, phase shifters, beamforming devices, mixers, switches, combiners, and amplifiers

• Develop RF schematics and support PCB layout and design reviews

• Perform RF link-budget, gain, noise-figure, linearity, dynamic-range, and cascade analyses

• Characterize RF components and assemblies using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and power meters — measuring S-parameters, gain, insertion loss, compression, phase, amplitude balance, isolation, and noise performance

• Support multichannel calibration, beam steering, channel matching, and antenna-pattern measurements

• Integrate RF hardware with power, control, digital, FPGA, and mechanical subsystems

• Develop RF test setups, calibration methods, test procedures, and automated measurements, supporting laboratory, chamber, outdoor, and system-level testing

• Troubleshoot RF issues such as mismatch, instability, coupling, oscillation, interference, and unexpected loss, working closely with fabrication, assembly, and component vendors

• Document designs, test results, component trades, and engineering recommendations

Requirements

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience

• 3–7 years of relevant RF or microwave engineering experience

• Strong understanding of impedance matching, S-parameters, transmission lines, gain, noise figure, linearity, and RF link budgets

• Hands-on experience using a VNA, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, and RF power-measurement equipment

• Experience designing or testing RF boards, antennas, receivers, or communication hardware

• Familiarity with RF simulation or circuit-design tools

• Ability to troubleshoot RF hardware at both the component and system levels

• Ability to collaborate across RF, electrical, mechanical, software, and FPGA teams

• Strong technical documentation and communication skills

• Practical, curious, and comfortable working directly with hardware

• Able to work independently while seeking guidance when appropriate

Preferred Experience

• Knowledge of phased arrays is a plus, but not required — a solid RF fundamentals background is the priority

• Experience with multichannel RF systems, radar, satellite communications, or direction-finding systems

• Exposure to RF simulation tools (HFSS, CST, ADS, AWR) and PCB-based antenna or antenna-array design

• Experience with beamforming devices, digitally controlled phase shifters, LNAs, filters, RF combining networks, and antenna-pattern, gain, polarization, or anechoic-chamber measurements

• Working knowledge of RF calibration and amplitude/phase alignment across multiple channels, and Python or MATLAB for data analysis and test automation

• Understanding of PCB stack-ups, controlled impedance, RF grounding/shielding, connector launches, and manufacturing tolerances, and experience with prototype fabrication and assembly vendors

• Comfortable with shifting requirements in an early-stage environment, with interest in growing into broader technical responsibility as the team scales

Logistical Requirements

• This position is on-site in San Francisco, CA

U.S. Citizenship Requirement

• This role requires U.S. citizenship.
  
  

Competitive compensation plus meaningful early-stage ownership grant. Compensation is determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities, and internal equity.

Benefit Highlights

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage through a Blue Shield Platinum PPO plan

• Low-cost primary care and specialist visits, with no referral required

• Preventive care, prenatal visits, and children's dental and vision covered at no cost

• 401(k) retirement savings plan

Equal Opportunity

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. They evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

About AdAstra

AdAstra Talent Advisors is a headhunting and talent advising firm focused on the Climate, Space, and Defense sectors of Hard Tech. We specialize in pairing highly technical and executive talent with some of the world’s leading Hard Tech startups.

At AdAstra, we catalyze the innovations that future generations depend on by placing the right people in the right seats. Our dedicated work enables inconceivable technology from Earth, to the stars. And it’s all because of trailblazing talent like you - those driven to do what’s never been done before. 

We care about long term relationships with both candidates and companies. Even if the role we initially discuss isn’t a perfect fit, it’s likely we’ll have something relevant to share with you in the future. 

Join us on our journey by following along via LinkedIn!

CEO, Seyka Mejeur  |  LinkedIn profile

CTO / COO, Brian Mejeur  |  LinkedIn profile

AdAstra Talent Advisors  |  LinkedIn profile

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