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Contract Rf Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Array Labs

Staff RF Design Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$170K - $220K/yr

About the Job As a Staff RF Design Engineer, you will design and validate the RF electronics that enable Array's radar sensors. Your work will include low-noise receive chains, high-power transmit ...

Array Labs

Staff RF Design Engineer

Redwood City, CA

About the Job As a Staff RF Design Engineer, you will design and validate the RF electronics that enable Array's radar sensors. Your work will include low-noise receive chains, high-power transmit ...

Array Labs

Staff RF Design Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$170K - $220K/yr

About the Job As a Staff RF Design Engineer, you will design and validate the RF electronics that enable Array's radar sensors. Your work will include low-noise receive chains, high-power transmit ...

Raytheon

Principal RF Design Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

... engineering expertise to meet the needs of today's mission and stay ahead of tomorrow's threat. Our team solves tough, meaningful problems that create a safer, more secure world. Effector RF Design ...

Raytheon

Principal RF Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

... engineering expertise to meet the needs of today's mission and stay ahead of tomorrow's threat. Our team solves tough, meaningful problems that create a safer, more secure world. Effector RF Design ...

Raytheon

Principal RF Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

... engineering expertise to meet the needs of today's mission and stay ahead of tomorrow's threat. Our team solves tough, meaningful problems that create a safer, more secure world. Effector RF Design ...

Apple

RF Passive Design Engineer

San Diego, CA

$120K - $210K/yr

We are looking to hire a Chip Passive Design Engineer in a group at Apple that develops RF/AMS chips that will be used in Apple mobile devices. You will be responsible for on chip inductors ...

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All JobsContract Rf Design Engineer JobsContract Rf Design Engineer Jobs in California

Contract Rf Design Engineer information

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering with extensive experience and advanced skills can earn $300,000 or more annually. High-level roles often require advanced certifications, leadership responsibilities, and working in high-demand industries or companies.

What does a Contract RF Design Engineer do?

A Contract RF Design Engineer is a specialist hired on a temporary or project basis to design, develop, and optimize radio frequency (RF) circuits and systems. Their work typically involves tasks such as creating schematics, simulating RF performance, testing prototypes, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. They may work in industries like telecommunications, aerospace, defense, or consumer electronics, often collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver solutions that meet technical and regulatory requirements. Because they are contractors, their roles may be project-specific and vary in duration, focusing on providing expertise for particular phases of product development.

Are RF engineers in demand?

RF engineers are in high demand due to the growth of wireless communication, 5G networks, and satellite technology. They require expertise in circuit design, signal processing, and testing, with job opportunities available in telecommunications, defense, and consumer electronics sectors.

What is the highest salary for an RF engineer?

The highest salaries for RF design engineers can exceed $150,000 annually, especially for those with extensive experience, advanced certifications, or working in high-demand industries like telecommunications or aerospace. Senior-level RF engineers with specialized skills in signal processing, circuit design, and testing may earn even higher compensation, often supplemented by bonuses and benefits.

What is the difference between Contract Rf Design Engineer vs RF Systems Engineer?

AspectContract Rf Design EngineerRF Systems Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, RF certificationsBachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering, RF certifications
Work EnvironmentProject-based, contract roles in labs or officesFull-time, ongoing roles in R&D or product development
Industry UsageCommon in telecommunications, defense, aerospaceUsed across similar industries, often in system-level design

Contract Rf Design Engineers focus on designing RF components and circuits on a temporary basis, often for specific projects. RF Systems Engineers work on integrating RF components into complete systems, typically in permanent roles. Both roles require similar technical skills and certifications but differ mainly in employment type and scope of responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Contract RF Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract RF Design Engineer, you need a strong background in electrical engineering, signal processing, and RF circuit design, often supported by a relevant degree. Proficiency with simulation tools like ADS, HFSS, or CST, as well as experience with spectrum analyzers and network analyzers, is typically required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help engineers collaborate with teams and resolve complex technical challenges. These skills and qualifications are essential to ensure reliable, high-performance RF systems that meet project specifications and timelines.

What are some common challenges faced by Contract RF Design Engineers when working with clients on short-term projects?

Contract RF Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as quickly adapting to different clients' processes, integrating with new teams, and understanding legacy design constraints in a limited timeframe. Additionally, they may need to troubleshoot complex RF issues with incomplete documentation or rapidly evolving project requirements. Strong communication and adaptability are essential, as contract roles frequently require efficient collaboration with cross-functional teams to meet tight deadlines and deliver high-quality solutions.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Highly experienced senior engineers in specialized fields such as aerospace, petroleum, or certain executive-level engineering roles can earn $500,000 or more annually. These positions often require advanced skills, certifications, and extensive industry experience, and may include bonuses or profit-sharing components.
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Contract Rf Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Rf Design Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 45% Full Time, 28% Temporary, and 27% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.
Radio Frequency (RF) Design Engineer

Radio Frequency (RF) Design Engineer

Silvus Technologies

San Diego, CA

Other

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

Silvus Technologies is seeking an RF Design Engineer who will report to the Director of RF Engineering on the RF Engineering team. The successful individual in this role will actively participate in all aspects of the design process to develop the RF subsystem for Silvus' StreamCaster MANET product line.  This position is 100% onsite Monday through Friday at our office located in Rancho Bernardo, North San Diego CA. 

The following is a list of at least some of the current essential job functions of the position. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time at its discretion. 

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Antenna to baseband RF subsystem design using discrete circuitry or highly integrated RFICs.
  • Discrete design includes PLL, LNA, Mixers, PA etc.
  • Implementing or supervising schematic capture and PCB layout.
  • RF performance characterization, tuning, and troubleshooting.
  • Overall system design to ensure good EMI performance.
  • Ensure circuit board design and overall radio product can pass emission and immunity regulations.
  • Troubleshoot RF-related production yield problems.
  • Improve design for manufacturability.
  • Rare local travel to other company locations, as required (i.e. Irvine, West LA).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelors of Science degree (or higher) in Electrical Engineering.
  • Minimum 2 years of multi-GHz RF hardware development experience.
  • Good working knowledge of RF board layout, fabrication, and packaging.
  • Hands-on experience with solving EMI, harmonics, spurious, and stability issues.
  • Experience using RF simulation tools (i.e. AWR Microwave Office, Altium).
  • Must be a U.S. Person (permanent resident or citizen) due to U.S. government contracts.
  • Employment is contingent upon the successful clearance of a background check.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
  • Excellent bench skills.
  • Proactive approach to problem-solving.
  • Detail-oriented and a firm commitment to quality.
  • Ability to work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment.
  • Problem-solving, data analysis, deductive reasoning, and critical thinking skills.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Office environment.
  • Occasional exposure to heat, cold, and allergens while performing tests or demonstrations in the field.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to do the following:
    • Lift equipment up to 20 lbs. for the set-up of demonstrations and testing.
    • Perform bending and reaching movements to place items on lower and higher shelves.
    • Kneeling or squatting to access lower shelves.
    • Walking/Moving in the labs

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