ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Contract Rf Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Hawkeye 360

Senior RF Electrical Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$130K - $175K/yr

... Design for Manufacturing (DFM). * Work closely with PCB Contract Manufacturers (CMs) to ensure ... Bachelor's degree in RF/Electrical Engineering, or a related field. * Expert understanding of ...

Cymertek

RF Systems Engineer

Tysons, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

In this role, you will design, develop, and optimize radio frequency systems and components that ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Cymertek

RF Systems Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

In this role, you will design, develop, and optimize radio frequency systems and components that ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Cymertek

RF Systems Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

In this role, you will design, develop, and optimize radio frequency systems and components that ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Judge Group, Inc.

Engineer-RF - II

Arlington, VA · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

RF Engineer Location: Remote Long term Contract MUST HAVE SKILLS (Most Important): Excellent ... Performing RF design work for Macro, Small Cell, In-Building systems Creating plumbing diagrams ...

W R Systems, Ltd.

RF Engineer

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$90K - $127K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

WR has an opportunity for an RF Engineer to support the design, development, and test and evaluation of RF demonstrator and prototype systems for HF radar programs. Position responsibilities will ...

New

WR Systems

RF Engineer

Norfolk, VA

$90K - $127K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

WR has an opportunity for an RF Engineer to support the design, development, and test and evaluation of RF demonstrator and prototype systems for HF radar programs. Position responsibilities will ...

WR Systems

RF Engineer

Norfolk, VA

$90K - $127K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

WR has an opportunity for an RF Engineer to support the design, development, and test and evaluation of RF demonstrator and prototype systems for HF radar programs. Position responsibilities will ...

WR Systems

RF Engineer

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$90K - $127K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

WR has an opportunity for an RF Engineer to support the design, development, and test and evaluation of RF demonstrator and prototype systems for HF radar programs. Position responsibilities will ...

WR Systems

RF Engineer

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$90K - $127K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

WR has an opportunity for an RF Engineer to support the design, development, and test and evaluation of RF demonstrator and prototype systems for HF radar programs. Position responsibilities will ...

Mu-Del Electronics

PCB Design Engineer

Manassas, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Design and develop complex multi-layer PCBs including digital, analog, RF, and power circuits ... Collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, firmware, and systems engineers to ensure design ...

CACI International Inc.

Senior RF Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$120.80 - $265.80/hr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Senior RF Engineer specializing in Beamformer Design, you will lead the development and ... and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies ...

Booz Allen Hamilton

Senior RF Systems Engineer

Dahlgren, VA · On-site

$86K - $198K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Your customer will trust you to not only design and develop these systems, but also evolve them ... as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsContract Rf Design Engineer JobsContract Rf Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Contract Rf Design Engineer information

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.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract RF design engineer?

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 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 most commonly searched types of Rf Design Engineer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Rf Design Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Rf Design Engineer jobs in Virginia?

For Contract Rf Design Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Rf Design Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Rf Design Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Contract Rf Design Engineer jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Contract Rf Design Engineer job openings:

Contract Rf Design Engineer jobs near you

Senior RF Electrical Engineer

Hawkeye 360

Herndon, VA • On-site

$130K - $175K/yr

Other

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

HawkEye 360 is seeking a Sr. RF Electrical Engineer on the Space Team. The Space Team's mission is to design, build, and test small commercial satellites that provide revolutionary RF geospatial analytics.
You will perform RF and electrical design of our space platforms with a primary focus on our RF payloads. This includes RF front ends, integrating Software Defined Radios (SDR's) and antenna systems. You'll define and execute RF performance tests to verify mission requirements while also developing analog, digital, and power electronics across our satellite platforms. This role requires strong RF and Electrical Engineering expertise working cross functionally with the mechanical, software, payload, and systems engineering teams.
Your main responsibilities will be:
  • Design and develop RF payload architectures and Software Defined Radio systems for space-based RF collection missions.
  • Design and optimize RF front ends, including filtering, amplification, frequency conversion, and signal conditioning circuitry.
  • Perform electrical and RF simulations at a board and system level to validate the performance of different sub-systems.
  • Perform RF link budget analysis, interference modeling, and sensitivity trade studies to meet mission performance requirements.
  • Support payload architecture decisions through mission-driven trade studies at PDR/CDR milestones.
  • Define and scope RF performance test plans to verify key specifications including sensitivity, dynamic range, spurious emissions, linearity, and signal quality.
  • Develop test procedures and automation scripts to characterize SDR and RF front-end performance.
  • Execute EMI/EMC compliance testing and develop mitigation strategies for flight hardware.
  • Design digital, analog, and power electronics for satellite flight hardware. Create and review schematics, block diagrams, PCB layouts, and Design for Manufacturing (DFM).
  • Work closely with PCB Contract Manufacturers (CMs) to ensure quality control and timely delivery of flight hardware.
  • Support spacecraft integration and testing efforts, including the design of Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE), flatsats for functional testing, and satellite flight hardware testing.
  • Perform first article hardware unit testing, including reception inspection, burn-in testing, thermal validation, and hardware checkouts.

Your skills and qualifications:Essential education and experience:
  • Bachelor's degree in RF/Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
  • Expert understanding of software-defined radio architectures, RF front-ends, and space-based RF systems.
  • 7+ years of hands-on experience designing and testing RF electronics, including SDRs, mixers, filters, amplifiers, and receiver chains.
  • Experience s using lab equipment such as Spectrum Analyzers, Network Analyzers, Signal Generators, Noise Figure Analyzers, and RF test chambers.
  • Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Understanding of power electronics, high-speed digital design, and RF fundamentals (impedance matching, S-parameters, noise figure, linearity, etc.).
  • Expertise in PCB design and layout (Altium or similar) with attention to RF design considerations (controlled impedance, grounding, shielding).
  • Hands-on flight hardware experience (satellite integration, RF lab testing, prototyping, troubleshooting).
  • Experience handling ESD-sensitive components and operating in cleanroom environments.

Desirable:
  • Experience working in the smallsat or space industry with RF payloads or communication systems.
  • Experience with version control (git) and continuous integration workflows.
  • Proficiency with Python, C++, MATLAB, or other coding languages for RF analysis and test automation.
  • Experience with RF simulation tools (ADS, CST, HFSS, or similar).
  • Familiarity with CAD (NX, SolidWorks, etc.) to support electro-mechanical integration.
  • Experience with EMI/EMC testing
  • Experience using collaboration tools such as JIRA, Confluence, etc.

We offer a compensation package that includes a competitive base salary plus annual performance bonus and benefits. We consider many factors when determining salary offers, such as candidate's work experience, education, training & skills, as well as market and business considerations. We are also open to considering candidates with experience and qualifications at a different level than required in a job posting, which may affect the compensation package offered.
Salary Range
$130,000-$175,000 USD
Company Overview:
HawkEye 360 is equipping defense, intelligence, and national security leaders with mission-critical signals intelligence to enable faster, better decision making. By detecting, geolocating, and characterizing radio frequency emissions worldwide, HawkEye 360 delivers trusted domain awareness and early warning indicators to the US Government and allied partners. Our space-based collection, proprietary signal processing, and AI-powered analytics transform knowledge of RF spectrum into a strategic advantage. Proven by operational mission success, HawkEye 360 is redefining how signals intelligence strengthens national and global security.
HawkEye 360 is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

Apply