What are the responsibilities and job description for the RF Engineer SSPA position at Mission Microwave?
We are proud to be ranked #23 on Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production and to have been recognized as a Great Place to Work® since 2022
Mission Microwave Technologies – Cypress, CA
Advance the RF technology behind the world’s most demanding communication systems.
About the Company
Mission Microwave Technologies was founded in 2014 to revolutionize the next generation of Solid-State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs) and Block Upconverters (BUCs). We leverage advanced GaN transistors, proprietary power-combining techniques, and innovative full-system designs to deliver the industry’s most efficient, compact, and lightweight high-power SSPAs.
With more than 100 years of combined leadership experience supplying high-performance, high-reliability RF solutions to commercial, military, and space customers, Mission Microwave has grown rapidly over the past decade and is backed by a private equity firm committed to long-term innovation and expansion.
We are proud to be ranked #28 on Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production and to have been recognized as a Great Place to Work® since 2022.
Mission Microwave is headquartered at 6060 Phyllis Drive, Cypress, CA 90603.
About the Role
As an RF Engineer with a focus on linearization and system-level optimization, you’ll design, model, and validate advanced RF and microwave subsystems that power mission-critical communication and high-reliability applications. You’ll take ownership from concept through production—driving circuit design, simulation, integration, and verification to ensure exceptional performance, efficiency, and linearity across high-power RF systems.
You’ll collaborate closely with product development, test, manufacturing, and quality engineering teams to convert breakthrough concepts into scalable, manufacturable hardware. Your work will directly influence the performance, yield, and field reliability of products operating in the world’s most demanding environments.
What You’ll Do
- Design innovative pre-distortion and linearization techniques for power amplifier (PA) modules.
- Generate cascade analyses to drive system-level architecture and performance decisions.
- Perform electromagnetic, RF, and microwave simulations using tools such as ADS, AWR, HFSS, and CST.
- Design and simulate RF/microwave circuits and subsystems—including power amplifiers, up/down-converters, T/R modules, synthesizers, filters, and mixers—to meet system specifications.
- Specify, source, and evaluate RF components for high-power, high-frequency, high-reliability environments.
- Collaborate with mechanical, thermal, manufacturing, and quality engineering teams to ensure designs are robust, manufacturable, and compliant with reliability and production standards.
- Develop test plans, configure measurement systems (VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters), and characterize prototypes for performance, linearity, efficiency, gain, noise figure, stability, thermal behavior, and power output.
- Prepare design documentation, test reports, failure analyses, and manufacturing support materials.
- Support New Product Introduction (NPI) efforts—design reviews, transfer to production, prototype builds, and issue mitigation during ramp-up.
- Troubleshoot and resolve design, test, reliability, and manufacturing challenges, providing corrective actions and continuous improvement recommendations.
- Stay current on emerging RF/microwave technologies and contribute to technology roadmaps and process improvement initiatives.
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
- Hands-on experience designing, simulating, producing, and validating RF/microwave circuits and subsystems.
- Proficiency using RF test equipment including VNAs, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, and power meters.
- Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, R, and/or C .
- Proficiency with RF simulation tools such as Microwave Office, ADS, HFSS, CST, or equivalent.
- Strong math skills, including calculus and spatial reasoning.
- Self-driven, results-oriented, and comfortable in a fast-paced engineering environment.
- Strong ownership, responsibility, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to work across organizational levels.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field.
- Minimum of 3 years of direct experience in RF design, simulation, and testing.
- Electronic Warfare (EW) or radar experience is a plus.
- Experience with embedded systems is a plus.
Mission Microwave is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with respect and dignity, and to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Mission Microwave maintains a drug-free workplace and conducts pre-employment background checks and, where permitted by law, substance-abuse testing.
Many of our roles support U.S. Government programs and require the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. Applicants who receive a conditional offer may be subject to government security investigations and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that Mission Microwave may share your application materials, including your resume and any related personal information or documentation, with its subsidiaries or affiliated partners strictly for the purpose of evaluating you for current or future employment opportunities.
Salary : $160,000 - $170,000