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Rf Development Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

SAIC

RF Test Engineer

Chantilly, VA

ORA_ON_SITE Description SAIC is seeking an experienced mid-level/senior engineer with technical and practical understanding of RF systems and phenomenology to support advanced technology development ...

SAIC

RF Test Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

Description SAIC is seeking an experienced mid-level/senior engineer with technical and practical understanding of RF systems and phenomenology to support advanced technology development and ...

SAIC

RF Test Engineer

Chantilly, VA

ORA_ON_SITE Description SAIC is seeking an experienced mid-level/senior engineer with technical and practical understanding of RF systems and phenomenology to support advanced technology development ...

Lynk

RF/Electrical Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

Job Summary As an RF/Electrical Engineer at Lynk, you will be responsible for wearing many hats in ... Supporting developing and maintaining technical documentation for payload design and development.

Lynk

RF Systems Test Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

Job Summary As a RF Systems Test Engineer at Lynk, you will wear many hats in the world of RF ... Working alongside engineers and technicians, Inform the design, development, and optimization of ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsRf Development Engineer JobsRf Development Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA

Rf Development Engineer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$38.5K

$122.4K

$190.4K

How much do rf development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for rf development engineer in Reston, VA is $122,429.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,400.00 and $144,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior Rf Development Engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in RF design, and advanced certifications can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially in high-demand industries like telecommunications and aerospace. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, reflecting their expertise and leadership roles.

What is the difference between Rf Development Engineer vs Rf Test Engineer?

AspectRf Development EngineerRf Test Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering, RF or CommunicationsBachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering, RF or Communications
Work EnvironmentDesign, develop, and optimize RF circuits and systemsTest and validate RF products and prototypes
Industry UsageResearch and development, product designQuality assurance, testing labs, manufacturing

While both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work in RF and communications industries, the Rf Development Engineer focuses on designing and developing RF components, whereas the Rf Test Engineer specializes in testing and validating these components to ensure performance and quality.

What are some typical challenges an RF Development Engineer faces when working on new wireless products?

RF Development Engineers often encounter challenges such as minimizing signal interference, ensuring regulatory compliance, and optimizing circuit layout for performance and manufacturability. Collaborating closely with hardware, firmware, and testing teams is essential to quickly address issues like electromagnetic compatibility or unexpected test results. Staying up-to-date with evolving communication standards and troubleshooting complex integration problems are also common aspects of the role. These challenges make adaptability and strong problem-solving skills valuable assets in this position.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an RF Development Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an RF Development Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, strong understanding of RF circuit design, and a relevant degree such as a B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering. Familiarity with simulation tools like ADS, HFSS, or CST, as well as experience with network analyzers and spectrum analyzers, is typically required. Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help you collaborate with teams and troubleshoot complex issues. These skills are crucial for developing reliable RF systems that meet performance standards and project requirements.

What is RF in salary?

In the context of an RF Development Engineer, RF in salary typically refers to the compensation related to radio frequency engineering roles, which often require specialized skills in RF circuit design, testing, and signal analysis. Salaries for RF engineers vary based on experience, location, and industry, but they generally offer competitive pay due to the technical expertise involved.

What are RF Development Engineers?

RF Development Engineers are specialized professionals who design, develop, and test radio frequency (RF) systems and components used in wireless communication devices and networks. Their work often involves creating circuits, antennas, and modules that operate at high frequencies, ensuring optimal performance and regulatory compliance. They collaborate closely with hardware engineers, software developers, and testing teams to integrate RF solutions into products like smartphones, satellite systems, and radar equipment. RF Development Engineers also troubleshoot signal issues, analyze system performance, and help improve device efficiency and connectivity.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior RF Development Engineers with extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and often specialized certifications can earn $300,000 or more annually. These roles typically involve designing and testing high-frequency communication systems and may require working in high-demand industries such as telecommunications or aerospace.

Can you make $500,000 as an electrical engineer?

Rf Development Engineers, a specialized role within electrical engineering, typically earn salaries ranging from $80,000 to $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Reaching a $500,000 salary usually requires senior positions, extensive experience, advanced skills in RF design and testing, or leadership roles in high-paying sectors such as telecommunications or defense. Such high compensation levels are uncommon for standard engineering roles and often involve bonuses, stock options, or executive responsibilities.
What are popular job titles related to Rf Development Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? For Rf Development Engineer jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Rf Development Engineer jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Rf Development Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Rf Development Engineer jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Rf Development Engineer job openings:
Rf Development Engineer jobs near you
Research Scientist - RF Machine Learning

Research Scientist - RF Machine Learning

Peraton

College Park, MD • On-site

$135K - $216K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Peraton rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 53 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

46th of 204 rated it services

Job description

Responsibilities
Peraton Labs is seeking a poly cleared Senior Research Scientist to support cleared research and development efforts for a Maryland-based IC customer. This role will focus on leading the design, development, prototyping, and evaluation of RF Machine Learning algorithms and signal processing techniques for advanced wireless, spectrum, cyber, and communications research.
You'll work on mission-focused R&D efforts that move from research concepts to working prototypes and operationally relevant capabilities. You will collaborate with researchers, software engineers, signal processing experts, and customer stakeholders to solve complex problems involving RF sensing, signal characterization, waveform analysis, spectrum awareness, and machine learning-enabled wireless systems.
This position requires full-time on-site work at a customer site near College Park, MD.
Key responsibilities may include
  • Lead the design, development, prototyping, and evaluation of RF/ML algorithms for wireless, spectrum, and communications applications
  • Research and implement machine learning approaches for RF signal detection, classification, characterization, anomaly detection, emitter identification, spectrum sensing, or waveform analysis
  • Develop and evaluate algorithms using modern machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, scikit-learn, JAX, or similar tools
  • Apply strong digital signal processing and RF domain knowledge to develop, train, test, and validate models against real-world or simulated RF data
  • Design data collection, labeling, preprocessing, feature extraction, training, evaluation, and experimentation workflows for RFML research
  • Develop software prototypes using Python, C/C++, MATLAB, GNU Radio, or similar tools
  • Analyze RF signals, wireless protocol behavior, modulation characteristics, channel effects, interference, noise, and system performance
  • Work with RF datasets, signal captures, IQ data, SDR platforms, and lab or field-collected spectrum data
  • Support integration of RFML capabilities into larger research prototypes, testbeds, cyber experimentation platforms, or operationally relevant systems
  • Communicate research findings, technical approaches, experiment results, and prototype capabilities through customer briefings, technical reports, whitepapers, and publications
  • Provide technical leadership, mentor junior researchers or engineers, and help shape future RFML research direction

*This position may be eligible for an increased sign-on bonus. Eligibility, bonus amount, and applicable terms and conditions will be discussed during the recruiting process*
#MDFSP
#PLABS26
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
  • Minimum of 6+ years of experience with a Bachelor's degree, 4+ years of experience with a Master's degree, or 2+ years of experience with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related discipline. In lieu of a Bachelors, an additional 4 years of experience is required for a total of 10+ years.
  • Strong background in Radio frequency Machine Learning, digital signal processing, wireless communications, or RF systems research
  • Experience designing, developing, training, testing, or evaluating machine learning models for RF, wireless, spectrum, signal processing, or communications applications
  • Experience with modern machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, scikit-learn, or similar tools
  • Strong Experience programming in Python and at least one additional language such as C/C++, Java, or similar
  • Experience working with RF data, signal captures, IQ samples, simulated waveforms, or real-world wireless datasets
  • Experience working in Linux-based dev environments
  • Ability to develop, test, troubleshoot, document, and demonstrate research prototypes
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical concepts and research results to technical stakeholders
  • US Citizenship is a requirement for this position
  • This position requires an active/current TS/SCI w/ Polygraph

Desired Additional Qualifications
  • Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field is preferred
  • Demonstrated history of research in Machine Learning and RF spectrum domains, including publications, prototypes, proposals, patents, technical reports, or customer-facing research briefings
  • Experience with RFML applications such as signal classification, modulation recognition, emitter identification, spectrum sensing, anomaly detection, interference detection, protocol inference, or RF fingerprinting
  • Experience with SDR platforms such as Ettus USRP, HackRF, BladeRF, LimeSDR, or similar hardware
  • Familiarity with SDR software and RF development tools such as GNU Radio, UHD/USRP, MATLAB, Simulink or similar tools
  • Experience with wireless systems or protocols such as LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi, SATCOM, MANET, tactical radio systems, mesh networks, or custom waveform environments
  • Experience with RF test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, vector signal analyzers, channel emulators, or RF front-end equipment
  • Experience with deep learning approaches for signal processing, including CNNs, RNNs, transformers, autoencoders, contrastive learning, self-supervised learning, or generative models
  • Experience with data engineering for RFML, including dataset generation, augmentation, labeling, synthetic data, simulation, model evaluation, and experiment tracking
  • Experience with tools such as NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, cuSignal, CUDA, MLflow, Weights & Biases, DVC, or similar tools
  • Experience integration ML models into deployable prototypes, edge systems, containers, testbeds, or cyber/radio experimentation environments
  • Experience with RF cyber research, wireless security, electronic warfare, spectrum operations, protocol reverse engineering, or adversarial ML
  • Ability to serve as a technical lead, task lead, or principal investigator on DoD/IC research efforts

Peraton Overview
Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.
Target Salary Range
$135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
EEO
EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.

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About Peraton

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At Peraton, we re at the forefront of delivering the next big thing every day. We re the partner of choice to help solve some of the world s most daunting challenges, delivering bold, new solutions to keep people around the world safer and more secure.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2017

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