# Senior RF Engineer

**Company:** [Icarus](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/icarus)
**Location:** El Segundo, CA
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $120k – $220k/yr
**Experience:** 2+ years
**Skills:** Rf Theory, Electromagnetics, Communications Systems, Link Budgets, Antenna Design, Rf Propagation, Spectrum Analyzers, Vnas, Signal Generators, Power Meters, Emi/Emc
**Posted:** 2026-02-09

> Designs, builds, and validates RF subsystems including radios, antennas, and data links for stratospheric aircraft. Requires 2+ years RF experience in aerospace/UAVs, hands-on testing, and field debugging.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Design, build, and fly RF and communications systems for long-endurance stratospheric aircraft
- Own RF subsystems end to end: architecture, link budgets, component selection, integration, test, and flight validation
- Design and integrate radios, antennas, RF front ends, and data links for LOS and BLOS operation
- Drive RF performance through analysis, simulation, bench testing, and flight data
- Lead EMI/EMC mitigation across avionics, power, and payload systems
- Work closely with avionics, GNC, electrical, mechanical, and software teams to deliver robust flight communications
- Support integration, production bring-up, and flight operations in the desert

## Requirements
- 2+ years designing and deploying real RF systems for aerospace, defense, UAVs, or similarly demanding environments
- Strong fundamentals in **RF theory**, **electromagnetics**, and **communications systems**
- Experience with **link budgets**, **antenna design or selection**, **RF propagation**, and system-level trade studies
- Hands-on experience with **RF test equipment** (spectrum analyzers, VNAs, signal generators, power meters)
- Experience debugging RF systems in the field, not just in simulation
- Comfort working from first principles and validating performance through test and flight data
- Ability to move fast, own outcomes, and operate with minimal supervision

## Compensation
- US salary range: **$120,000 - $220,000 USD**
- Highly competitive equity grants
- Top market salary and bonuses
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Daily lunch
- Unlimited Celsius

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