Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer

SNI Technology$70K — $110K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
  • 3+ years of experience in RF engineering with hands-on SDR work.
  • Strong experience with GNU Radio, Python, and/or C++ for signal processing tasks.
  • Deep understanding of modulation/demodulation, spectrum analysis, and RF front-end design.
  • Familiarity with HackRF, RFD900x, Opera Cake, or similar SDR hardware.
  • Licensed ham radio operator (General class or higher preferred).
  • Experience debugging low-SNR or bursty RF environments.

Responsibilities

  • Design, test, and optimize RF signal acquisition pipelines using SDR platforms.
  • Develop and refine real-time demodulation and signal classification techniques for drone protocols.
  • Conduct direction-finding experiments to improve geolocation accuracy.
  • Collaborate with firmware and software teams to integrate RF algorithms into the system.
  • Analyze RF environments and mitigate noise/interference issues in deployments.
  • Support test deployments in field environments including prisons and public events.
  • Stay current with drone RF signature trends and new protocols.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead and innovate in a niche field of RF detection.
  • Work on cutting-edge projects involving drone technology.
  • Gain experience in a startup environment fostering autonomy and creativity.
  • Contribute to safety-critical applications in public safety and infrastructure.
Full Job Description
Job Details

We are seeking a Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer with a passion for signal intelligence and hands-on SDR experience to lead development and optimization of our RF detection algorithms. This engineer will play a critical role in enhancing the system's ability to demodulate and analyze radio signals from commercial drones and their controllers.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Design, test, and optimize RF signal acquisition pipelines using Software-Defined Radio (SDR) platforms such as HackRF, USRP, or LimeSDR.
  • Develop and refine real-time demodulation and signal classification techniques for various drone communication protocols (e.g., 2.4GHz, 5.8GHz, 900MHz).
  • Conduct direction-finding (DF) experiments and improve geolocation accuracy of drone and pilot positions.
  • Collaborate with firmware and software teams to integrate RF algorithms into the proprietary system.
  • Analyze RF environments and mitigate noise/interference issues in field deployments.
  • Support test deployments in field environments including prisons, critical infrastructure, and public events.
  • Stay current with drone RF signature trends and new protocols.


Requirements:
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
  • 3+ years of experience in RF engineering with hands-on SDR work.
  • Strong experience with GNU Radio, Python, and/or C++ for signal processing tasks.
  • Deep understanding of modulation/demodulation (e.g., FSK, OFDM, DSSS), spectrum analysis, and RF front-end design.
  • Familiarity with HackRF, RFD900x, Opera Cake, or similar SDR hardware.
  • Licensed ham radio operator (General class or higher preferred).
  • Experience debugging low-SNR or bursty RF environments.
  • Comfortable working in a startup environment with a high degree of autonomy and problem-solving.


Nice to Have:
  • Experience with direction-finding algorithms (e.g., MUSIC, AoA).
  • Familiarity with drone communication protocols (e.g., DJI OcuSync, Crossfire, ExpressLRS).
  • Knowledge of FAA Remote ID regulations or C-UAS policy frameworks.
  • Experience working with government agencies or public safety applications.


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