About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Position summary

This is an entry-level Associate Hardware Engineer role supporting mission-critical communications and networking systems. The position is full-time, primarily onsite in San Diego, CA, and requires the ability to obtain U.S. government security clearances. Applicants will join the client’s test engineering team to perform RF and digital hardware testing, troubleshooting, and lab-based integration tasks.

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What You’ll Do

• Support test engineering activities for communications and networking systems used in defense and secure environments.
• Build, set up, and operate test fixtures and benches for RF and digital hardware.
• Use RF test equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, signal generators) to validate hardware performance.
• Run test procedures, collect and document test data, and support debugging/troubleshooting efforts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (design, firmware, systems engineering) to reproduce and resolve hardware issues.
• Assist with integration and validation of FPGA/board-level designs in lab environments.
• Follow strict security and handling procedures required for classified or sensitive programs.
• Travel occasionally (approximately 10%) to support other on-site facilities or test events.

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Required qualifications

A candidate must meet ALL of the following:

• Currently completing or having completed a degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD) in Electrical Engineering or a related STEM field from an accredited institution.
• U.S. citizenship required and the ability to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• Demonstrated experience using RF test equipment such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and signal generators.
• Hands-on experience with RF or digital hardware or related software tools in a lab/test environment.
• Willingness and ability to work onsite at the San Diego campus and follow program security requirements, including potential Special Access Program (SAP) qualification when needed.

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Preferred qualifications

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher.
• Experience working with FPGAs and VHDL (or equivalent HDL) and board-level bring-up.
• Familiarity with LabVIEW, TestStand, or other automated test frameworks.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and attention to detail when collecting and documenting test data.

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Compensation & benefits

• Salary range: $69,400 — $104,000 per year (listed by the client). Final offers consider experience, education, skills, and market factors.
• Eligible employees may receive additional compensation components such as overtime, shift differential, and discretionary or annual bonuses depending on role.
• Benefits typically include medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plans, paid time off, and paid company holidays (specifics determined by the hiring client).

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Location & work environment

• Primary work location: San Diego, CA (Rancho Carmel campus). May also support the Spectrum campus in San Diego as required.
• This role is full-time and onsite. Occasional travel (~10%) may be required.
• Security: U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain program-specific clearances (including potential Special Access Program access) are required.

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How the hiring process works

Careertakes is assisting the confidential client with sourcing and candidate intake. Selected applicants will be forwarded to the confidential client for interviews and final hiring decisions. AI tools may be used to assist with initial resume screening; human reviewers make the final hiring decisions.

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Key keywords (for clarity)

• RF test equipment
• Oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, signal generator
• FPGA / VHDL
• LabVIEW / TestStand
• Security clearance / US citizenship
• Associate Hardware Engineer — San Diego, CA

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.