Rf Engineer

Job Title: RF Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on the simulation, design, and validation of advanced RF circuits and subsystems for next-generation air and ground-based systems. You will work across the full lifecycle of RF hardware, from requirements definition and trade studies through bench-level testing and troubleshooting, while collaborating closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to complex, high-impact systems in a fast-paced research and development environment with strong benefits, including a pension.

Responsibilities

• Simulate and design RF circuits and subsystems for future air and ground-based systems, including transmit/receive (T/R) modules, up and down converters, and RF beamforming networks.
• Develop and maintain RF design requirements derived from high-level system performance specifications.
• Perform detailed RF design trade studies, balancing gain, output power, noise figure, cost, ease of manufacturing, and other key performance metrics.
• Conduct bench-level evaluation, characterization, and troubleshooting of RF designs and subsystems to ensure they meet performance and reliability targets.
• Collaborate closely with hardware, software, and systems engineering teams to drive the development and integration of RF subsystems and assemblies.
• Represent the organization in technical reviews, internal and external meetings, and formal design reviews, clearly communicating design approaches and results.
• Stay current with RF industry innovations, developments, tools, and trends, and apply relevant advances to ongoing and future designs.
• Organize, plan, schedule, and coordinate engineering workloads to meet established deadlines and project milestones.
• Apply detailed and extensive technical expertise in engineering principles, concepts, and practices to solve complex RF design challenges.
• Support the development and refinement of RF PCB designs and layouts to ensure robust performance and manufacturability.
• Contribute to a customer-focused culture by providing technical support and clear communication to internal stakeholders and external customers as needed.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's, master's, or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution, or equivalent engineering experience in lieu of formal education.
• Progressive engineering experience, typically including eighteen or more years with a bachelor's degree, sixteen or more years with a master's degree, or thirteen or more years with a PhD.
• Demonstrated experience simulating and designing RF circuits, subsystems, and assemblies using tools such as MATLAB, ADS, HFSS, and/or CST.
• Strong proficiency in RF measurement techniques and hands-on experience operating standard lab equipment, including network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and related RF test instruments.
• Strong working knowledge of RF PCB design and layout practices.
• Experience with electrical engineering design, including analog and digital circuits and digital design.
• Experience with PCB design tools and workflows, including Altium or similar platforms.
• Experience using circuit simulation tools such as PSPICE and LTspice.
• Experience with electromagnetic simulation tools such as Ansys HFSS.
• Understanding of clock distribution and related high-speed signal integrity considerations.
• Ability to quickly understand new concepts and apply them accurately in a fast-paced R&D environment.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface effectively with other departments, customers, government representatives, and technical professionals.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to delivering high-quality engineering solutions.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience designing RF modules and subsystems for radar systems and/or electronic warfare systems.
• Demonstrated experience designing and optimizing antennas.
• Previous experience working with the Department of Defense.
• Active security clearance.
• Experience in organizing, planning, scheduling, and coordinating complex engineering workloads to meet project deadlines and milestones.
• Familiarity with advanced RF and electromagnetic design tools and methodologies beyond the core toolset.

Work Environment

This role is based on site in Tyngsborough, MA, at a brand-new facility dedicated to advanced electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. The organization designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind systems that support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide. All research and development, production, and testing activities occur in-house at this location, providing close integration between design, build, and test teams. The facility includes a near-field radar testing range on site, enabling comprehensive RF measurement and validation capabilities. You will work in a highly collaborative, engineering-driven environment that emphasizes technical excellence, innovation, and end-to-end ownership of complex RF systems, with strong benefits including a pension.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Tyngsborough, MA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $175000.00 - $250000.00/yr.

Pension + 401k match. They will offer relocation assistance to those who need it.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Tyngsborough,MA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 21, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.