Principal RF Communications & Electronic Warfare Engineer

Secmation

$185K — $250K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • U.S. citizenship and an active DoD Security Clearance.
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.
  • 12+ years of RF, communications, radar, or EW experience; 15+ years preferred.
  • Experience designing military RF communications systems for tactical and defense applications.
  • Hands-on experience with SDR frameworks and platforms like GNU Radio and USRP.
  • Knowledge in Electronic Warfare system design and applications.
  • Strong technical communication skills for engaging with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development of advanced RF technologies for national defense missions.
  • Shape system architecture and technical strategy from concept to operational deployment.
  • Work on Electronic Warfare capabilities including EA, ES, EP, and countermeasure development.
  • Develop Software Defined Radio solutions across software, firmware, and embedded systems.
  • Integrate and validate RF communications, SATCOM, and resilient networking technologies.
  • Conduct system integration, HWIL testing, and field demonstrations for stakeholders.
  • Mentor junior engineers and engage directly with government customers.

Benefits

  • $15,000 signing bonus upon joining.
  • Annual discretionary performance bonus.
  • Company equity participation.
  • Relocation assistance for new hires.
  • Flexible hybrid work schedule with every other Friday off.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • 401(k) plans with company contributions.
Full Job Description
Principal RF Communications & Electronic Warfare Engineer

$185,000-$250,000 Base Salary

$15,000 Signing Bonus • Annual Bonus • Equity • Relocation Assistance

Hybrid | Huntsville, AL | Full-Time | 9/80 Schedule

Join a mission-focused engineering team developing next-generation RF communications and Electronic Warfare capabilities for national defense. Lead system architecture, collaborate directly with DoD customers, and work hands-on across SDR, radar, resilient networking, and secure communications technologies - with meaningful technical ownership from concept through operational deployment.

What you'll build and lead

Lead the development of advanced RF technologies that directly support critical defense missions. You will shape system architecture, guide technical strategy, and move innovative capabilities from early concept through modeling, integration, HWIL testing, field demonstration, validation, and operational implementation.

You'll work across:
  • Electronic Warfare capabilities, including Electronic Attack, Electronic Support, Electronic Protection, and countermeasure development.
  • Software Defined Radio solutions spanning software, firmware, and secure embedded communications platforms.
  • Tactical RF communications, SATCOM, resilient networking, radar, and RF sensing technologies.
  • AI-enabled RF analysis, mission systems, and adaptive signal-processing capabilities.
  • RF algorithm development, communications-system modeling, mission simulation, and scenario development using MATLAB and Python.
  • System integration, hardware-in-the-loop testing, field testing, validation, and live customer demonstrations.
  • Cross-program technical leadership, engineering mentorship, and direct engagement with government stakeholders.

What we're looking for
  • U.S. citizenship and an active DoD Security Clearance.
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
  • 12+ years of relevant RF, communications, radar, or EW experience with demonstrated principal-level technical leadership; 15+ years preferred.
  • Deep experience designing, implementing, and analyzing military RF communications systems for tactical and defense applications.
  • Hands-on experience with SDR frameworks and platforms such as GNU Radio, REDHAWK, USRP/UHD, Epiq, or comparable technologies.
  • Experience with Electronic Warfare system design and applications, including EA, ES, EP, or countermeasure development.
  • Experience with SATCOM, radar, tactical communications, resilient networking, or RF sensing systems.
  • Strong background in signal processing, waveform performance, adaptive tuning, optimization, and error-correction techniques.
  • Proficiency with MATLAB and Python for modeling and simulation, plus embedded C/C++ for systems-level applications.
  • Experience leading system integration, HWIL testing, mission simulation, field testing, and customer demonstrations.
  • Ability to independently lead complex technical work while collaborating effectively within a small, multidisciplinary engineering team.
  • Strong technical communication skills and the ability to present findings and recommendations to internal teams, program leadership, and government customers.

Compensation & Benefits
  • $185,000-$250,000 base salary
  • $15,000 signing bonus
  • Discretionary annual performance bonus
  • Company equity
  • Relocationassistance
  • Hybrid 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off
  • Paid time off and flexible work schedules
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Life and short- and long-term disability insurance
  • 401(k) retirement benefits with company contribution

Work Environment
  • Hybrid role with on-site workrequired in Huntsville, Alabama.
  • Flexible 9/80 work schedule supporting every other Friday off.
  • Collaborative, fast-paced, and technically innovative environment with distributed team integration.

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