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Freelance Rf Design Engineer Jobs in Sacramento, CA

Elve Inc

RF Design Engineer

Davis, CA · On-site

An RF design engineer at Elve is responsible for the design, analysis, and characterization of Elve products and systems. This will include performing RF simulations on amplifiers and passive ...

Elve Inc

RF Design Engineer

Davis, CA · On-site

An RF design engineer at Elve is responsible for the design, analysis, and characterization of Elve products and systems. This will include performing RF simulations on amplifiers and passive ...

Elve Inc

RF Design Engineer

Davis, CA · On-site

An RF design engineer at Elve is responsible for the design, analysis, and characterization of Elve products and systems. This will include performing RF simulations on amplifiers and passive ...

Elve Inc

Amplifier Design Engineer

Davis, CA · On-site

If you are passionate about RF design, eager to tackle challenges in high-frequency circuits, and want to work in a dynamic team environment, we can't wait to meet you! The amplifier design engineer ...

Elve Inc

Amplifier Design Engineer

Davis, CA · On-site

If you are passionate about RF design, eager to tackle challenges in high-frequency circuits, and want to work in a dynamic team environment, we can't wait to meet you! The amplifier design engineer ...

Elve Inc

Amplifier Design Engineer

Davis, CA · On-site

If you are passionate about RF design, eager to tackle challenges in high-frequency circuits, and want to work in a dynamic team environment, we can't wait to meet you! The amplifier design engineer ...

Teledyne

RF Electrical Engineer

Rancho Cordova, CA · On-site

$58K - $78K/yr

Design and optimize high-power microwave amplifiers for mission-critical applications. Teledyne ... If you're passionate about RF design and want to work on traveling wave tubes (TWTs) from concept ...

Qorvo, Inc.

Staff Layout Design Engineer

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$144K - $187K/yr

Design analog and RF layout * Understand device matching techniques * Excellent teamwork skills ... BSEE/BS Engineering Technology or related program * Comfortable with CMOS and SOI technologies ...

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Freelance Rf Design Engineer information

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$140

How much do freelance rf design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance rf design engineer in Sacramento, CA is $50.87, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.87 and $65.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freelance RF design engineer?

Freelance RF Design Engineers are independent professionals who specialize in designing, testing, and optimizing radio frequency (RF) circuits and systems for various applications, such as telecommunications, wireless networks, and broadcasting. Unlike salaried employees, they work on a contract or project basis for different clients, providing their expertise on-demand. Their responsibilities often include creating schematics, selecting components, running simulations, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Freelance RF Design Engineers need strong technical skills, up-to-date knowledge of RF technologies, and the ability to manage projects independently.

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

To thrive as a Freelance RF Design Engineer, you need a strong background in electrical engineering, RF circuit theory, and experience with wireless communication systems, often supported by a relevant degree or certification. Proficiency with RF simulation and design tools like HFSS, ADS, or CST, as well as familiarity with PCB design software, is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for successful project delivery and client interactions. These skills and qualifications are essential to design reliable RF systems, meet client specifications, and maintain competitiveness in a project-based environment.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance RF design engineers when working with multiple clients simultaneously?

Freelance RF Design Engineers often juggle projects for several clients at once, which can present challenges such as managing different project timelines, adapting to varied technical requirements, and ensuring clear communication across diverse teams. Balancing priorities and staying organized are crucial to delivering quality work within tight deadlines. Additionally, freelancers need to quickly familiarize themselves with each client's unique tools and processes, making adaptability and proactive problem-solving essential skills for success in this role.

What is the difference between Freelance Rf Design Engineer vs Rf Design Engineer?

AspectFreelance Rf Design EngineerRf Design Engineer
CredentialsTypically holds relevant engineering degrees, certifications optionalRequires engineering degree, often with industry certifications
Work EnvironmentIndependent, project-based, remote or on-siteFull-time, employed by a company, on-site or hybrid
Employer & Industry UsageServes multiple clients across industries like telecom, aerospaceWorks for a single employer, primarily in telecommunications or electronics

Freelance Rf Design Engineers work independently on various projects, offering flexibility and diverse experience. Rf Design Engineers are typically employed full-time within companies, focusing on ongoing development. Both roles require similar technical skills and certifications, but differ mainly in employment status and work setup.

What are the most commonly searched types of Rf Design Engineer jobs in Sacramento, CA?

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Freelance Rf Design Engineer jobs near you

RF Design Engineer

Elve Inc

Davis, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Who is Elve?
Elve, Inc is a deep-tech startup in Davis, CA, specializing in the design and manufacturing of high-efficiency lightweight millimeter-wave and near-THz RF power amplifiers. Our groundbreaking technology enables 100x faster wireless internet access in urban settings and remote locations, revolutionizing the future of wireless connectivity well beyond 5G. We are looking for RF design engineers to play key roles in bringing our technology to market. If you are passionate about the future of RF electronics, additive manufacturing, precision assembly, microfabrication, vacuum systems, advanced materials processing, and working on a small and energetic team - we can't wait to meet you!
Job Description
An RF design engineer at Elve is responsible for the design, analysis, and characterization of Elve products and systems. This will include performing RF simulations on amplifiers and passive components and operating test high-voltage test equipment (up to 20 kV), as well as creating and documenting the design process. . Given our team's size, there are many opportunities to grow, be challenged, and take on new opportunities, skills and responsibilities. This is a full-time salaried position. The goal of this position is to allow us to rapidly iterate and validate our design process and approaches.
Responsibilities
The full-time assignment may include performing product tuning, testing, and troubleshooting of RF microwave devices. This will include measuring S-parameters of passive and active devices. It will include measuring gain and power transfer information on amplifiers and assessing stability. In addition to standard test equipment such as oscilloscopes and multimeters, you will use signal generators, diode detectors, power meters, vector network analyzers, and spectrum analyzers. You will work with waveguide and waveguide couplers, coaxial cables, and high-voltage power supplies.
Work Environment
May be a combination of the following but not limited to:
  • Manufacturing facility
  • ISO 5 - ISO 7 Cleanroom
  • Laboratory
  • Machine shop
  • Warehouse
  • Office

Requirements
Qualifications
  • Familiarity with electromagnetic design and simulation software
  • Familiarity with amplifier design, including matching, stability, and transfer characteristics
  • Familiarity with oscilloscopes, multimeters, and other electrical test equipment
  • Willing to learn and adaptable
  • Self-motivated
  • Experience working in a team environment
  • Be able to quickly switch between tasks
  • Detail-oriented

Good to have:
  • Experience with electron beam optics
  • Experience with finite element electromagnetic analysis software
  • Familiarity with the Smith chart
  • Familiarity with RF communication systems, including link budgets and high data rate waveforms
  • Experience using a network analyzer and other RF test equipment/accessories
  • Experience with waveguide hardware
  • Hands-on experience building devices (of any kind)
  • Experience with Ultra-High-Vacuum systems
  • Coding experience, particularly Python (for automation and data-processing/analysis), ideally with hardware communication
  • Knowledge of environmental test processes and equipment is beneficial.
  • Experience with high voltage
  • Great communication skills
  • J-STD-001 training preferred

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field with at least 6 years of relevant engineering experience in vacuum amplifier device design
  • Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field with at least 4 years of relevant engineering experience in vacuum amplifier device design
  • Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field with at least 2 years of relevant engineering experience in vacuum amplifier device design
  • Basic hands-on tools experience
  • To conform to U.S. Government technology export regulations, including Export Administration Regulations (EAR), to work in this role you must be one of the following: a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about export control here.

Benefits
Benefits Include:
  • Competitive salary
  • Health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
  • Vacation time
  • A taste of the start-up life
  • Exposure to cutting-edge technology in vacuum electronics, materials science, and additive manufacturing.
  • Rubbing shoulders and brainstorming with multiple Ph.D. and masters-level engineers

What it's like to work at Elve
We are a small team (for now!) on a mission to bring the next generation of high-speed wireless connectivity to a billion people worldwide. That kind of impact is not going to be achieved with incremental improvements- we are gunning for orders of magnitude advances in production capability, cost, size, and power in the mm-wave RF amplifier market. We ask "dumb" questions all the time because we always have something to learn. We work really hard, make sure to get good sleep, handle conflict intentionally, and expect great things from each other.

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