Senior Principal RF Engineer (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Senior Principal RF Engineer (RF/Microwave): Designing and optimizing high-reliability RF and microwave electronics for aerospace and defense systems with an accent on RF circuit design, simulation, and system integration. Focus on establishing technical direction for complex PCB layouts, resolving hardware performance issues, and mentoring engineering teams.

Location: On-site in Hawthorne, CA, United States

Salary: $190,000–$260,000

Company

hirify.global is a defense technology company redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™).

What you will do

• Lead the design, prototyping, and tuning of complex RF circuit boards incorporating LNAs, power amplifiers, baluns, and filters.
• Develop RF architecture and conduct component trade studies to meet system-level performance requirements across multiple programs.
• Serve as the technical authority for linear, nonlinear, and electromagnetic simulations using tools like HFSS, ADS, or AWR.
• Guide PCB layout in Altium, defining stack-ups, impedance control, grounding, and shielding techniques.
• Direct RF testing and characterization, including integration and troubleshooting at the board and subsystem levels.
• Mentor engineers and drive technical alignment across systems, power, digital, mechanical, and software teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with 15+ years of progressively responsible RF engineering experience.
• Proven technical leadership in developing RF hardware for aerospace, defense, avionics, radar, or space systems.
• Expert understanding of RF fundamentals, including gain, noise figure, linearity, phase noise, and stability.
• Hands-on experience leading RF test activities using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, and signal generators.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Nice to have

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Mathematics.
• Recognized expertise in power amplifier design, analysis, and integration.
• Experience with EMI/EMC compliance and aerospace standards like DO-160 or MIL-STD-461.
• Familiarity with RF antenna design principles.

Culture & Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid by the company.
• 401k plan with a 50% company match up to 6% of pay.
• Unlimited PTO and 'No meeting Fridays'.
• Free daily lunch and casual dress code.
• Generous pre-IPO stock option grants and relocation assistance.