Design Engineer III

Ignite Human Capital

$90K — $120K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or related field
  • 8+ years in RF/microwave design
  • Strong understanding of transmission lines and S-parameters
  • Hands-on experience with VNA and spectrum analyzers
  • Experience designing multilayer RF PCBs
  • Familiarity with high-frequency PCB materials

Responsibilities

  • Design and develop RF and microwave circuits including amplifiers and antennas
  • Perform schematic capture and layout of high-frequency PCBs
  • Select and apply advanced RF materials like Rogers laminates
  • Conduct RF simulation using tools like Keysight ADS and Ansys HFSS
  • Optimize impedance matching and EMI/EMC performance
  • Develop RF test plans and validate using advanced lab equipment
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure DFM/DFA
  • Interface with customers to define requirements and present designs

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead innovative projects in aerospace and defense
  • Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams
  • Potential for growth in high-frequency design expertise
  • Involvement in demanding applications requiring advanced technology
  • Customer-facing role enhances communication and presentation skills
Full Job Description
We are seeking an experienced RF Designer to lead the design, development, and validation of high-frequency circuits and systems for demanding applications including aerospace, defense, industrial, and medical products. This role requires deep expertise in RF/microwave design, PCB materials, and system integration, along with the ability to work in a customer-facing environment.

Key Responsibilities
  • Design and develop RF and microwave circuits including amplifiers, filters, mixers, oscillators, and antennas
  • Perform schematic capture, simulation, and layout of high-frequency PCBs
  • Select and apply advanced RF materials (e.g., Rogers laminates such as RO4350B, RO4003C, RT/duroid series)
  • Conduct RF simulation using tools such as:
    • Keysight ADS
    • Ansys HFSS
    • Cadence AWR Microwave Office
  • Optimize impedance matching, signal integrity, and EMI/EMC performance
  • Develop RF test plans and perform lab validation using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, and signal generators
  • Collaborate with PCB layout, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to ensure design for manufacturability (DFM/DFA)
  • Interface directly with customers to define requirements, present designs, and support technical reviews

Support prototype builds, troubleshooting, and production ramp-up
Qualifications

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
  • 8+ years of experience in RF/microwave design
  • Strong understanding of transmission lines, impedance matching, S-parameters, and EM theory
  • Hands-on experience with RF test equipment (VNA, spectrum analyzer, power meters)
  • Experience designing multilayer RF PCBs and working with controlled impedance structures
  • Familiarity with high-frequency PCB materials and stack-up design

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with mmWave or high-frequency (>10 GHz) designs
  • Knowledge of hermetic and high-reliability packaging techniques
  • Experience with LTCC, hybrid circuits, or module-level RF design
  • Familiarity with military and aerospace standards (MIL-STD, IPC Class 3)
  • Experience designing for harsh environments (temperature, vibration, radiation)

Key Skills
  • RF circuit simulation and modeling
  • Signal integrity and power integrity analysis
  • PCB layout guidance for RF performance
  • Debugging and root cause analysis
  • Strong communication and customer interaction skills

Due to ITAR and / or CUI compliance, this position requires candidates to be a U.S. Citizen.

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