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Rf Layout Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Specter

RF Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

The Role Specter is hiring an Antenna and RF Hardware Design Engineer to own the antenna and RF ... Own RF schematic and layout decisions: stack‑up, controlled impedance, RF routing, and isolation.

Specter

RF Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The Role Specter is hiring an Antenna and RF Hardware Design Engineer to own the antenna and RF ... Own RF schematic and layout decisions: stack-up, controlled impedance, RF routing, and isolation.

Teledyne

Sr. ASIC Layout Design Engineer

Goleta, CA

$113K - $151K/yr

We are seeking an experienced Senior Analog/Mixed-Signal Layout Design Engineer to help develop the next generation of high-performance focal-plane array readout integrated circuits (ROICs). These ...

TrellisWare Technologies

RF Design Engineer

Alpine, CA · On-site

RF schematic entry (and ideally PCB layout) using Altium toolchain * Generate required design ... Minimum Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field of study required. * 5 years ...

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Rf Layout Design Engineer information

What is an RF Layout Design Engineer?

RF Layout Design Engineers are professionals who specialize in designing the physical layout of radio frequency (RF) circuits and systems on printed circuit boards (PCBs). They work to optimize the placement and routing of RF components to ensure signal integrity, minimize interference, and meet performance specifications. Their role often includes collaborating with circuit designers, using specialized electronic design automation (EDA) tools, and following industry standards for high-frequency layouts. This position is critical in industries such as telecommunications, aerospace, and consumer electronics where RF performance is essential.

What are some common challenges faced by an RF Layout Design Engineer during the PCB design process?

RF Layout Design Engineers often encounter challenges related to signal integrity, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and maintaining the correct impedance throughout the PCB. Collaborating closely with RF circuit designers, they must carefully place components and route traces to minimize losses and prevent unwanted coupling between signals. Successfully addressing these challenges requires a deep understanding of RF principles, experience with specialized EDA tools, and effective communication with cross-functional teams such as hardware and manufacturing engineers.

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

To thrive as an RF Layout Design Engineer, you need a strong background in electrical engineering, RF circuit design, and PCB layout, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with EDA tools like Cadence Allegro, Altium Designer, and RF simulation software, as well as knowledge of industry standards, is essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills in this position. These competencies are vital for ensuring reliable, high-performance RF designs that meet technical requirements and project timelines.

What is the difference between Rf Layout Design Engineer vs RF Circuit Design Engineer?

AspectRf Layout Design EngineerRF Circuit Design Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning physical layouts of RF circuits and componentsDesigning RF circuit schematics and overall circuit performance
Skills & CertificationsRF layout tools, PCB design, electromagnetic simulationRF circuit theory, schematic design, simulation tools
Work EnvironmentLayout and PCB design teams, manufacturingDesign teams, testing labs, simulation environments
Industry UsageTelecommunications, aerospace, consumer electronicsWireless devices, RF modules, communication systems

While both roles involve RF technology, the Rf Layout Design Engineer focuses on the physical layout and PCB design of RF circuits, ensuring optimal electromagnetic performance. In contrast, the RF Circuit Design Engineer concentrates on creating and simulating RF circuit schematics to meet performance specifications. Both roles are essential in RF product development but emphasize different stages of the design process.

What are popular job titles related to Rf Layout Design Engineer jobs in California?

For Rf Layout Design Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Rf Layout Design Engineer jobs in California look for?

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Cities in California with the most Rf Layout Design Engineer job openings:

Rf Layout Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Rf Layout Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

RF Electrical Engineer

Xona Space Systems, Inc

Burlingame, CA • On-site

$130K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Take ownership of the spacecraft's TT&C radios, including architecture, link budgets, PCB design, and antenna interface.

  • Perform electrical and RF test/validation at unit, subsystem, and system levels, and debug hardware during bring-up and performance tuning.

  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure the design meets EMI/EMC standards and spaceflight reliability requirements.

Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.
With Pulsar - the world's most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit - Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.
Overview
We're looking for an RF Electrical Engineer to take ownership of our spacecraft's TT&C (Telemetry, Tracking & Command) radios - the S-Band link that keeps our satellites talking to the ground.
You'll own this subsystem end to end: architecture, link budgets, PCB design, and the antenna interface, built to survive the harshest environment there is. This is a hands-on, cross-disciplinary role working directly with electrical, systems, mechanical, and software engineers to ship a critical piece of hardware that flies.
What You'll Own:
  • End-to-end design of the satellite's S-Band radio - schematic capture, PCB layout, and component selection, in close coordination with antenna design engineers
  • Spacecraft radio link budgets across all mission phases
  • EMI/EMC compliance and spaceflight reliability across the design
  • Electrical and RF test/validation at unit, subsystem, and system level
  • Hardware bring-up, debugging, and performance tuning in lab and flight environments

What You Bring:
  • B.S. in Electrical Engineering or related field (M.S. a plus)
  • Hands-on experience with RF/electrical engineering, including PCB design with RF layout and routing
  • Proficiency with RF/EM tools: HFSS, ADS, or MATLAB
  • Working knowledge of EMI/EMC standards and practices (e.g., MIL-STD-461)
  • Experience with digital interfaces relevant to radio integration (UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet)
  • Hands-on lab experience: oscilloscopes, network analyzers, signal generators
  • Strong documentation habits and cross-functional communication

Strongly Preferred:
  • Experience designing RF/electronics for space or spacecraft systems
  • Exposure to radiation-tolerant component selection and thermal/vacuum design constraints

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).
For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

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