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Rf Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

AVIA

Specialist, RF Electrical Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$110 - $150/hr

The Specialist RF Engineer is a key contributor to new design activity (requirements analysis, component selection, schematic capture, layout) as well as supporting existing products within the ...

Motion Recruitment

RF Engineer III

Troy, MI

RF Engineer III Position Duties: Perform intermodulation analyses of antenna systems and components. Calculate the efficiency of various multiple-antenna schemes, and analyze the tradeoffs involved ...

SRI International

Sr Research Engineer-RF

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

$130K - $194K/yr

Overview From our Ann Arbor, MI office, we have an opening for a Senior Research Engineer with RF hardware experience. You will participate in multi-disciplinary, collaborative teams and contribute ...

SRI International

Sr Research Engineer-RF

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

$130K - $194K/yr

From our Ann Arbor, MI office, we have an opening for a Senior Research Engineer with RF hardware experience. You will participate in multi-disciplinary, collaborative teams and contribute to the ...

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All JobsRf Engineer JobsRf Engineer Jobs in Michigan

Rf Engineer information

See Michigan salary details

$32.2K

$102.6K

$159.5K

How much do rf engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for rf engineer in Michigan is $102,569.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,000.00 and $121,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an RF engineer?

RF Engineers, or Radio Frequency Engineers, are professionals who design, implement, and maintain systems that transmit or receive radio waves. They work with wireless communication systems, including cellular networks, Wi-Fi, satellite, and broadcasting technologies. Their responsibilities include optimizing signal strength, troubleshooting interference issues, and ensuring regulatory compliance. RF Engineers use specialized software and testing equipment to analyze and improve network performance. They are essential in industries such as telecommunications, aerospace, and defense.

What does an RF engineer do?

A radio frequency (RF) engineer's primary responsibilities are to collect data, research radio frequency, and analyze gathered information to improve radar design. Your duties have you working with intelligence sensors, surveillance radars, cellular components, over-the-horizon radar, and radio waves. You design modules and switches to improve how the electronics transmit and perform surveys and installations. You take measurements of electromagnetic emissions, install equipment, test your designs, and troubleshoot and debug to improve the radio frequency and speed. RF engineers often coordinate with technicians and other engineers to cover multiple data sites.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an RF engineer?

To thrive as an RF Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, RF circuit design, and signal processing, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with tools such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, simulation software (like HFSS or ADS), and certifications such as FCC or amateur radio licenses are commonly required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork help set top performers apart in this field. These skills and qualifications are crucial for designing, testing, and optimizing wireless communication systems to ensure reliable and efficient performance.

What are some typical challenges an RF engineer might face when working on wireless network deployments?

RF Engineers often encounter challenges such as signal interference, environmental obstacles, and fluctuating network demands. Dealing with interference from both internal and external sources requires careful planning, site surveys, and frequent optimization. Additionally, working in multidisciplinary teams with network architects, field technicians, and software engineers is common, requiring strong communication skills to coordinate solutions. Keeping up-to-date with evolving wireless standards and technologies is also essential for success in this role.

What is the difference between Rf Engineer vs Wireless Communications Engineer?

AspectRf EngineerWireless Communications Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering, RF certificationsBachelor's in Electrical/Communications Engineering, RF certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign, testing, and optimization of RF systemsDevelopment and deployment of wireless communication systems
Industry UsageTelecom, aerospace, defenseTelecom, mobile networks, IoT

RF Engineers focus on designing and testing RF components and systems, while Wireless Communications Engineers work on developing and implementing wireless network solutions. Both roles require similar technical skills and certifications, often overlap in industry applications, but differ in their specific focus areas within wireless technology.

Is RF engineering in demand?

RF engineering is in demand due to the growth of wireless communication, 5G networks, and satellite technology. RF engineers with skills in signal processing, antenna design, and RF testing are sought after in telecommunications, aerospace, and defense industries.

What is the average salary of a radio frequency engineer?

The average salary of a radio frequency (RF) engineer in the United States is approximately $100,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Entry-level positions typically start around $70,000, while experienced engineers with specialized skills can earn over $150,000 annually.
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Rf Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Rf Engineer job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, and 18% Contract. Highlights an 89% In-person, 8% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,569 per year, or $49.3 per hour.

Lead Electrical & RF Engineer

Acron Aviation

Grand Rapids, MI • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

About Acron Aviation (Avionics – Surveillance):
Acron Aviation designs, engineers, and manufactures certified avionics systems that support safety-critical flight operations across commercial and military aviation. Within Avionics, the Surveillance product line develops and sustains systems that enable aircraft awareness, collision avoidance, and airspace interoperability. Our portfolio includes TCAS, Mode S transponders, ADS-B, and integrated surveillance solutions deployed across commercial, military, and rotorcraft platforms. This work is performed in highly regulated environments and demands deep expertise across systems, hardware, software, and RF throughout the full product lifecycle.

Job Title
Lead Electrical & RF Engineer – Surveillance

Position Summary
The Lead Electrical & RF Engineer is responsible for the technical leadership, architecture, development, certification support, and lifecycle management of advanced avionics systems spanning both electrical engineering and radio frequency (RF) domains.

This role leads electrical, RF, and hardware engineering activities for airborne products, including transponder, TCAS, surveillance, and communications systems, while ensuring compliance with aerospace standards and customer requirements.

The position serves as the primary technical authority for RF and electrical hardware development, requirements definition, and design execution, including oversight of external engineering partners and contract design organizations. The successful candidate will drive innovation in Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) optimization, lead RF architecture and performance trade studies, leverage AI-enabled engineering tools to improve productivity and automation, and own the development of product hardware requirements and design documentation throughout the product lifecycle
Technical Leadership
  • Lead electrical engineering activities for the development of RF airborne avionics products from concept through certification and production
  • Define system architecture and allocate requirements across RF, analog, digital, mixed-signal, software, FPGA/firmware, mechanical, and systems engineering disciplines
  • Serve as technical lead for surveillance, communications, and collision avoidance products, including Mode S transponders, ADS-B systems, and TCAS equipment
  • Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and engineering oversight to multidisciplinary development teams across EE and RF domains
  • Support strategic product roadmaps and technology initiatives, including next-generation RF and avionics platform capabilities
RF Leadership & Integration
  • Lead RF architecture, design integration, and technical decision-making for avionics products
  • Establish RF performance requirements and budgets for gain, noise figure, linearity, selectivity, isolation, spurious response, dynamic range, and coexistence requirements
  • Drive RF trade studies and design reviews covering circuit design, layout, shielding, grounding, EMI/EMC, and environmental constraints
  • Coordinate RF validation, laboratory characterization, and system integration activities
  • Support certification readiness by ensuring RF-related design evidence, test coverage, and compliance artifacts are complete and defensible
Requirements Development & Ownership
  • Develop, maintain, and own Hardware Requirements Documents (HRDs) and associated derived requirements
  • Ensure traceability between customer, system, hardware, software, and certification requirements
  • Lead requirements decomposition, validation, verification planning, and change management activities
  • Establish acceptance criteria and verification methods for hardware requirements
Outsourced Development Oversight
  • Manage and provide technical oversight of outsourced engineering partners responsible for RF, electrical, and hardware development activities
  • Define statements of work, technical deliverables, schedules, design reviews, and acceptance criteria
  • Conduct design audits and technical reviews to ensure compliance with company standards and certification requirements
  • Coordinate technical communication between internal stakeholders and external development organizations
  • Assess supplier technical risks and implement mitigation strategies
Hardware Design & Development
  • Direct the design and development of complex digital, analog, mixed-signal, RF, and power electronics hardware
  • Review schematics, RF signal chain implementation, PCB layouts, component selections, engineering analyses, and test results
  • Ensure designs meet performance, reliability, manufacturability, maintainability, and certification objectives
  • Support RF/hardware, hardware/software, FPGA, and system-level integration activities
  • Drive design margins that support DO-160 environmental qualification and EMI/EMC robustness requirements
Product Optimization
  • Lead initiatives to reduce Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) across avionics product portfolios
  • Drive design trade studies that balance performance, manufacturability, certification, and lifecycle objectives
  • Promote Design for Manufacturability, Design for Cost, Design for Test, and Design for Reliability principles
  • Establish engineering metrics and practices supporting next-generation avionics solutions
Artificial Intelligence & Engineering Automation
  • Champion the adoption of AI technologies to improve engineering productivity, quality, and development efficiency
  • Maintain a continuous improvement mindset and evaluate opportunities to streamline engineering workflows
  • Evaluate emerging AI technologies and integrate effective practices into engineering processes to reduce repetitive and low-value work
Verification & Validation
  • Lead hardware verification and validation activities throughout the product lifecycle, primarily through oversight of outsourced development partners
  • Review and approve test plans, procedures, reports, and qualification data
  • Support root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and corrective action investigations
  • Ensure complete verification coverage and certification evidence generation
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
  • 10+ years of experience in aerospace, avionics, or safety-critical electronic product development
  • 5+ years of technical leadership experience leading complex avionics RF and electrical hardware development programs
  • Experience managing and overseeing external engineering design partners or contract development organizations
  • Strong understanding of RTCA DO-160 environmental qualification requirements and RF/EE integration challenges in airborne systems
  • Experience developing and managing hardware requirements documentation and requirements traceability
  • Expertise in digital, analog, mixed-signal, RF, and power electronics design
  • Experience supporting certification and regulatory compliance activities
Preferred Additional Skills
  • Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline
  • Experience with FAA, EASA, TSO, ETSO, and military avionics programs
  • Familiarity with DO-254, DO-178C, ARP4754A, and ARP4761 development processes
  • Deep experience with RF systems and surveillance technologies including Mode S Transponders, ADS-B, IFF, DME, TCAS, or ACAS
  • Experience implementing AI-assisted engineering workflows and automation solutions
  • Experience with DOORS requirements management
  • Experience with Altium design tools
  • Project leadership or engineering management experience
Key Competencies
  • Technical leadership
  • RF and electrical systems thinking
  • Requirements engineering
  • Supplier management
  • Product ownership
  • Strategic planning
  • Risk management
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • AI-enabled engineering innovation
  • Continuous improvement mindset
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to influence technical direction across organizations
Equal Opportunity Statement
Acron Aviation is proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with respect and dignity and to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Additional Information:
Acron Aviation maintains a drug-free workplace and conducts pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where allowed by law. Acron Aviation is an E-Verify employer.

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.