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Senior Principal Rf Engineer Jobs in Arlington, VA

Principal Cyber RF Engineer Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers' most ...

The Senior Radio Frequency Engineer is responsible for the analysis, design and enhancement of DAS ... PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES * Perform site walk evaluation. * Collect walk test data and ...

Principal RF/Electrical Engineer

Chantilly, VA ยท On-site

$142K - $174K/yr

As a Principal RF/Electrical Engineer at Lynk, you will be responsible for wearing many hats in the world of radio frequencies, electronics, hardware, and software. You will be responsible for the ...

Job Summary As a Principal RF/Electrical Engineer at Elveo, you will be responsible for wearing many hats in the world of radio frequencies, electronics, hardware, and software. You will be ...

Senior RF Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR's National Security Solutions team provides high-end engineering and advanced technology solutions to our customers in the intelligence and ...

As an RF Engineer for Communications and Networking, you will work in one of the most contested domains of the modern battlefield: the electromagnetic spectrum. You will design, develop, and deploy ...

Senior RF Engineer

Columbia, MD ยท On-site

$140K - $200K/yr

Senior RF Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR's National Security Solutions team provides high-end engineering and advanced technology solutions to our customers in the intelligence and ...

As an RF Engineer for Communications and Networking, you will work in one of the most contested domains of the modern battlefield: the electromagnetic spectrum. You will design, develop, and deploy ...

Our client is seeking a Sr. RF Electrical Engineer for their Space Team. The Space Team's mission is to design, build, and test small commercial satellites that provide revolutionary RF geospatial ...

Our client is seeking a Sr. RF Electrical Engineer for their Space Team. The Space Team's mission is to design, build, and test small commercial satellites that provide revolutionary RF geospatial ...

Senior RF Engineer

Washington, DC ยท On-site

$130K - $225K/yr

The RF Engineer will design RF subsystems for threat simulators, as well as serve as a subject matter expert (SME) during the analysis of seekers. Pay Range $130,000 - 225,000 The pay range for this ...

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Senior Principal Rf Engineer information

See Arlington, VA salary details

$94.3K

$178.8K

$246.8K

How much do senior principal rf engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal rf engineer in Arlington, VA is $178,815.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $144,400.00 and $199,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior principal RF engineer?

Senior Principal RF Engineers are highly experienced professionals who lead the design, development, and optimization of radio frequency (RF) systems and components. They play a critical role in projects involving wireless communications, radar, satellite, and other RF applications by providing technical guidance, setting design standards, and solving complex engineering challenges. These engineers typically oversee teams, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate with other departments to ensure successful project delivery. Their expertise helps organizations achieve high performance and reliability in RF systems.

How does a senior principal RF engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the development of new wireless products?

A Senior Principal RF Engineer frequently works alongside hardware designers, software engineers, and product managers to ensure that wireless products meet performance specifications and regulatory requirements. Collaboration often involves participating in design reviews, troubleshooting complex RF issues, and guiding teams through the integration of RF subsystems. Effective communication and leadership skills are essential, as the role often requires translating technical RF concepts for non-specialist stakeholders and mentoring junior engineers. This team-oriented environment helps drive innovation and ensures that the end product is robust and reliable.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior principal RF engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Principal RF Engineer, you need deep expertise in RF circuit design, electromagnetic theory, wireless communications, and typically an advanced degree in electrical engineering. Proficiency with RF simulation tools like ADS or HFSS, network analyzers, and industry certifications such as IEEE or FCC compliance are commonly required. Excellent problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help in guiding teams and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders. These skills ensure the reliable design and implementation of complex RF systems essential for cutting-edge telecommunications and electronics projects.

What is the difference between Senior Principal Rf Engineer vs RF Systems Engineer?

AspectSenior Principal Rf EngineerRF Systems Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires advanced degrees (BSc, MSc, PhD) in Electrical Engineering or related fields, with extensive RF certificationsUsually holds a bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, with some RF certifications
Work EnvironmentFocuses on high-level RF design, system architecture, and leadership in R&D teamsInvolves RF system integration, testing, and troubleshooting within product development teams
Industry UsageCommonly found in telecommunications, aerospace, and defense industriesUsed across wireless communications, consumer electronics, and network infrastructure sectors

The Senior Principal Rf Engineer typically holds more advanced credentials and leads complex RF projects, focusing on system-level design and strategic development. In contrast, RF Systems Engineers often work on implementing and testing RF systems within project teams. Both roles are essential in RF engineering but differ mainly in seniority, scope, and responsibilities.

What cities near Arlington, VA are hiring for Senior Principal Rf Engineer jobs?

Cities near Arlington, VA with the most Senior Principal Rf Engineer job openings:

Senior Principal Cyber RF Engineer

Sterling, VA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 22 hours ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Nightwing is a company that provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services. They are seeking a Senior Principal Cyber RF Engineer to solve real-time cyber challenges and work on-site with end users, integrating reverse engineering results into development products.
Responsibilities:
โ€ข Solve real-time cyber challenges, working on site with our end users in their spaces.
โ€ข Join a team of developers building high impact native applications for mobile devices, with continuous and meaningful feedback from users.
โ€ข Integrate reverse engineering results into development products and expand knowledge of the mobile platform to meet development objectives and customer requirements.
Qualifications:
Required:
โ€ข Current TS/SCI clearance is required
โ€ข Experience with RF front-end development and customization
โ€ข Experience with Software Defined Radios to include custom baseband processing up through protocol stack implementation and customization
โ€ข At least 8 years of experience with C/C++ on Unix/Linux platforms using Make/CMake build systems
โ€ข At least 8 years of experience with common software defined radio platforms (GNU Radio, etc)
โ€ข Experience developing against or working with large open-source projects
โ€ข Requires a degree in a technical discipline
Preferred:
โ€ข Team or task leadership experience
โ€ข Experience developing for Android or another mobile platform
โ€ข Understanding of CNE techniques and methodologies on Android and Linux
โ€ข Experience with the ARM64/ARM32 Architecture or other similar platform
โ€ข Familiarity with Atlassian products (Bitbucket, Bamboo, JIRA, etc.)
โ€ข Familiarity with version control software such as git
โ€ข Reverse engineering ARM binaries
โ€ข Developing proof-of-concept exploit software
Company:
Nightwing provides cyber, data operations, systems integration, and intelligence services for government and commercial customers. Founded in 2024, the company is headquartered in Sterling, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.