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Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

Principal RF Engineer Join us as an RF Telemetry Engineer and help design, build and flight test revolutionary propulsion technology. You'll lead assessment of link budgets, design of both ground ...

Senior RF Data Link Engineer

Houston, TX

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Develop, prototype, and test data link models and communication signal processing algorithms in ... What We Offer Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer ...

Firmware Test Engineer

Houston, TX · Hybrid

$40 - $50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborate with engineering teams to resolve firmware and system-level issues. * Develop and ... experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 ...

Principal RF Engineer

Houston, TX

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... and test. Our core electrical engineering technologies include RF/RADAR, Navigation/IMU/GPS ... Ability to drive suppliers in meeting commitments. * Knowledge of DoD/DoW hardware development ...

Senior RF Product Engineer

Houston, TX

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Hardware Engineering provides RF expertise to develop RF & Radar solutions across the Raytheon ... Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected ...

Principal RF Mechanical Engineer

Houston, TX

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Effector RF Design Team at Raytheon is seeking a talented Principal Engineer to join our team ... Requirements verification test planning and execution What We Offer Our values drive our actions ...

Senior RF Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Principal RF Engineer Join us as an RF Telemetry Engineerand help design, build and flight test revolutionary propulsion technology. You'll leadassessment of link budgets, designofboth ground ...

Project/Test Engineer - PHASER

Houston, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Coordinate with engineering, integration and test, operations, logistics, quality, safety, and ... Experience working across multiple disciplines to coordinate technical work and drive execution.

Project/Test Engineer - PHASER

Houston, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Coordinate with engineering, integration and test, operations, logistics, quality, safety, and ... Experience working across multiple disciplines to coordinate technical work and drive execution.

Project/Test Engineer - PHASER

Houston, TX

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Coordinate with engineering, integration and test, operations, logistics, quality, safety, and ... Experience working across multiple disciplines to coordinate technical work and drive execution.

Senior Principal RF Engineer

Houston, TX

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... and test. Our core electrical engineering technologies include RF/RADAR, Navigation/IMU/GPS ... Ability to drive suppliers in meeting commitments. * Knowledge of DoD/DoW hardware development ...

Principal RF Subsystems Engineer

Houston, TX

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Specify, design, and test advanced RF sensors and subsystems across frequencies from MHz through ... What We Offer Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer ...

Showing results 21-40

Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer information

See Houston, TX salary details

$35.3K

$112.4K

$174.8K

How much do freelance rf drive test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance rf drive test engineer in Houston, TX is $112,381.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,100.00 and $132,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Freelance RF Drive Test Engineer, you need a solid understanding of wireless communication principles, RF measurement techniques, and a relevant degree in telecommunications or electrical engineering. Familiarity with drive test tools such as TEMS, Nemo, or Agilent, as well as proficiency in data analysis software, is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate findings clearly are important soft skills for this role. These skills ensure accurate network performance assessment, effective troubleshooting, and clear reporting, all of which are critical for optimizing wireless networks.

What is the difference between Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer vs Rf Network Optimization Engineer?

AspectFreelance Rf Drive Test EngineerRf Network Optimization Engineer
CredentialsTechnical certifications, relevant experienceCertifications in network optimization, technical background
Work EnvironmentField testing, on-site data collectionOffice-based, data analysis, planning
Employer & Industry UsageContract roles, telecom providers, testing companiesTelecom operators, network service providers

The Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer primarily conducts on-site drive tests to collect network performance data, often working independently or on contract. In contrast, the Rf Network Optimization Engineer focuses on analyzing data to improve network quality, usually working within a company's team. Both roles require technical certifications and industry knowledge, but their daily tasks and work environments differ significantly.

What is a freelance RF drive test engineer?

Freelance RF Drive Test Engineers are independent professionals who specialize in testing and optimizing the performance of wireless networks. They use specialized equipment to collect data on signal strength, coverage, and quality by driving through designated routes or walking in specific areas. Their findings help telecom companies identify network issues, improve coverage, and enhance user experience. Working as freelancers, they take on projects from various clients and may operate in different locations as needed.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance RF drive test engineers and how can they be addressed?

Freelance RF Drive Test Engineers often encounter challenges such as managing variable project schedules, adapting to different client requirements, and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of testing tools and technologies. To address these, it's important to develop strong organizational skills, stay proactive in communication with clients, and regularly invest time in learning about the latest RF equipment and software. Flexibility and a willingness to travel are also crucial, as projects may require work in diverse geographic locations or environments. Building a reliable network with other engineers and industry professionals can help secure steady work and provide support when facing technical or logistical issues.

What are the most commonly searched types of Rf Drive Test Engineer jobs in Houston, TX?

The most popular types of Rf Drive Test Engineer jobs in Houston, TX are:

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer jobs in Houston, TX?

For Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer jobs in Houston, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer jobs in Houston, TX look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer jobs in Houston, TX are:

What cities near Houston, TX are hiring for Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer jobs?

Cities near Houston, TX with the most Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Freelance Rf Drive Test Engineer job openings in Houston, TX as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 41% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 3% Temporary, 47% Contract, and 5% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,381 per year, or $54 per hour.

Senior RF Engineer

Venus Aerospace

Houston, TX

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

Who We Are:
Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace. At Venus, we’re looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion.

The Role: Principal RF Engineer 
Join us as an RF Telemetry Engineer and help design, build and flight test revolutionary propulsion technology. You’ll lead assessment of link budgets, design of both ground stations and onboard radio and antenna systems, and system testing to ensure we gather critical test data. This role blends analysis, mission planning, hands‑on engineering, hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration to deliver reliable, flight‑ready systems. If you excel at systems thinking, flight systems implementations and solving hard problems, you’ll thrive here. 

What You'll Get To Do
  • Design, build and fly your systems
  • Lead the architecture, design, and selection of telemetry hardware, radios, antennas and ground stations
  • Conduct link analysis on a range of flight regimes as we rapidly improve our vehicle capabilities 
  • Design ground stations and ground station networks to capture flight data and send commands 
  • Deconflict frequency plans in different launch environments 
  • Define requirements, conduct trade studies and select radios and antennas to complete the mission 
  • Develop and maintain hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) test environments to support software development, integration, and verification
  • Support system integration, ground testing, and flight testing, including troubleshooting and root cause analysis
  • Assess system risks and recommend mitigations
  • Collaborate with external vendors and suppliers to define requirements, evaluate components, manage technical trade studies, and support procurement
  • Author and review technical documentation, including requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), schematics, test plans, and verification reports
  • Collaborate with Flight Software, Avionics, IT, GN&C, Aerodynamics, and Structures engineering disciplines to ascertain system requirements and meet technical program needs
  • Collaborate with Manufacturing and Quality to ensure your systems are ready to fly
What You Have
  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field. Alternatively, Radar Systems or Data Science experience, with a strong quantitative and mechanical measurements foundation 
  • 5+ years of experience in RF telemetry in rocket, missile or space applications
  • Experience conducting link analysis for flight vehicles in the supersonic and hypersonic flight regimes 
  • Experience writing requirements, conducting trade studies, selecting onboard antennas, and radios 
  • Experience placing and designing ground systems to receive data from and send commands 
  • Experience implementing and troubleshooting grounding, bonding, and shielding solutions for analog-to-digital instrumentation signals in multi-band RF environments 
  • Strong background in hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing and integration
  • Experience working with and managing outside vendors, including technical evaluations and supplier coordination
  • Strong troubleshooting and systems-level thinking skills
  • Experience with environmental testing and qualification
  • Key Competencies: systems-level avionics expertise; cross-functional collaboration; vendor and supplier management; clear technical communication 
What Will Set You Apart
  • Strong experience with small vehicle avionics teams 
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with diverse teams 
  • Familiarity with embedded systems, buses and protocols (CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, MIL-STD-1553, etc.). 
  • Experience managing contractors for consulting or hardware production 
  • Multiple launch campaigns under your belt 
  • Experience contributing to design reviews and flight safety reviews with range stakeholders 
Location:On-site in Houston, TX
 
Benefits:Venus Aerospace employee benefits include a 401(k) plan, stock options, and medical benefits, including dental and vision. We have a flex-Friday flexible schedule, unlimited PTO, and receive professional development opportunities.

ITAR Requirements
This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be able to meet ITAR requirements (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., 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). You can learn more about ITAR here.
 
Venus Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation, please email careerassistance@venusaero.com or call (281) 203-0027.This email and phone number were created exclusively to assist job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Messages or any other purposes, such as following up on an application, third party staffing agencies, website technical issues, or any other issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response. Messages will be returned within five business days.
 
For additional information about our Equal Opportunity Employment Policy, please visit our EEOP page.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.