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Freelance Rf Test Engineer Jobs in Ashburn, VA (NOW HIRING)

Hawkeye 360

Senior RF Electrical Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$130K - $175K/yr

The Space Team's mission is to design, build, and test small commercial satellites that provide ... This role requires strong RF and Electrical Engineering expertise working cross functionally with ...

SAIC

Principal RF Payload Engineer

Chantilly, VA

$160K - $200K/yr

ORA_ON_SITE Description The RF Payload Engineer will support advanced space systems with a focus on ... Support hardware manufacturing readiness, test procedure development, and flight certification ...

Zetier

CNO Test Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

CNO Test Engineer Zetier seeks HW/SW Test Engineers to develop and implement automated test ... Experience working in RF (e.g. 802.11ac, Zigbee, SATCOM, SDN, 5g) * Professional experience with ...

Zetier

CNO Test Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

CNO Test Engineer Zetier seeks HW/SW Test Engineers to develop and implement automated test ... Experience working in RF (e.g. 802.11ac, Zigbee, SATCOM, SDN, 5g) * Professional experience with ...

GTMR, Inc.

RF Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$165 - $185/hr

The RF Engineer will focus on designing, analyzing, monitoring, and optimizing RF systems that ... Prepare engineering reports, technical documentation, system diagrams, and test plans * Collaborate ...

SAIC

Principal RF Payload Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Description The RF Payload Engineer will support advanced space systems with a focus on RF payload ... Support hardware manufacturing readiness, test procedure development, and flight certification ...

SAIC

Principal RF Payload Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

ORA_ON_SITE Description The RF Payload Engineer will support advanced space systems with a focus on ... Support hardware manufacturing readiness, test procedure development, and flight certification ...

CACI International, Inc.

Test Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$72K - $149K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Engineering Time Type: Full time Minimum Clearance Required to Start: None Employee Type: Regular ... Familiarity with radio frequency (RF) systems and test equipment (spectrum analyzer, network ...

CACI International, Inc.

Test Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$72K - $149K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Engineering Time Type: Full time Minimum Clearance Required to Start: None Employee Type: Regular ... Familiarity with radio frequency (RF) systems and test equipment (spectrum analyzer, network ...

CACI International, Inc.

Test Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$86K - $181K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Engineering Time Type: Full time Minimum Clearance Required to Start: None Employee Type: Regular ... Familiarity with radio frequency (RF) systems and test equipment (spectrum analyzer, network ...

Axon

System Test Engineer II

Sterling, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

RF sensors, radar, EO/IR and acoustic sensors, computer vision, RF detection/DF, jamming and ... Build and maintain test tooling, automation, and instrumented data capture and reduction ...

Computational Physics, Inc.

Electrical Test Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$100K - $135K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

CPI is seeking an Electrical Engineer to provide test and validation support for critical time ... The successful candidate will be responsible for the design implementation of RF electronics, RF ...

Battelle

Test Engineer II

Chantilly, VA · On-site

They are seeking a Junior Test Engineer to support the testing and evaluation of cutting-edge cyber ... or RF concepts • Coursework or hands on experience with debuggers, scripting, or test frameworks ...

Zetier

CNO Test Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

Job Summary : Zetier is seeking HW/SW Test Engineers to develop and implement automated test ... S. security clearance Preferred : • Experience working in RF (e.g. 802.11ac, Zigbee, SATCOM, SDN ...

Axon

System Test Engineer II

Sterling, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

RF sensors, radar, EO/IR and acoustic sensors, computer vision, RF detection/DF, jamming and ... Build and maintain test tooling, automation, and instrumented data capture and reduction ...

Axon

System Test Engineer II

Sterling, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

RF sensors, radar, EO/IR and acoustic sensors, computer vision, RF detection/DF, jamming and ... Build and maintain test tooling, automation, and instrumented data capture and reduction ...

Zetier

CNO Test Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

Job Summary : Zetier is seeking HW/SW Test Engineers to develop and implement automated test ... S. security clearance Preferred : • Experience working in RF (e.g. 802.11ac, Zigbee, SATCOM, SDN ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsRf Test Engineer JobsFreelance Rf Test Engineer JobsFreelance Rf Test Engineer Jobs in Ashburn, VA

Freelance Rf Test Engineer information

See Ashburn, VA salary details

$37.8K

$120.3K

$187.1K

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

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance rf test engineer in Ashburn, VA is $120,340.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,700.00 and $142,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Freelance Rf Test Engineer vs RF Test Technician?

AspectFreelance Rf Test EngineerRF Test Technician
CredentialsEngineering degree, certifications in RF testingTechnical diploma or associate degree, on-the-job training
Work EnvironmentContract-based, project-specific, often remote or client sitesLaboratory or manufacturing facilities, on-site testing
Industry UsageDesign firms, consulting, freelance projectsManufacturers, testing labs, production lines

Freelance Rf Test Engineers typically hold engineering degrees and work independently on RF testing projects, often remotely or at client sites. RF Test Technicians usually have technical diplomas and work within labs or production environments. Both roles focus on RF testing but differ in credentials, work setting, and employment structure.

What are the most commonly searched types of Rf Test Engineer jobs in Ashburn, VA?

The most popular types of Rf Test Engineer jobs in Ashburn, VA are:

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Rf Test Engineer jobs in Ashburn, VA?

For Freelance Rf Test Engineer jobs in Ashburn, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Rf Test Engineer jobs in Ashburn, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Rf Test Engineer jobs in Ashburn, VA are:

Freelance Rf Test Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Rf Test Engineer job openings in Ashburn, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,340 per year, or $57.9 per hour.

Senior RF Electrical Engineer

Hawkeye 360

Herndon, VA • On-site

$130K - $175K/yr

Other

Posted 5 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.

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