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, Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing.

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

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What You’ll Do

Confidential Client is hiring an Embedded Software Engineer for RF payloads to join a fast-paced team focused on satellite communications and remote sensing for national-security customers. You will design, build, validate, and automate RF test infrastructure and firmware/software that enables advanced payload performance in low Earth orbit.

• Drive program-level decisions on RF system designs and tradeoffs
• Research novel solutions for large-scale satellite RF systems and payload architectures
• Design, build, validate, and automate RF test benches for full characterization using VNA, VSG, VSA, spectrum analyzers, RF power meters, and oscilloscopes
• Develop modular, scalable RF test infrastructure and test automation in Python and C++ to support design validation, qualification, and production
• Collaborate with hardware, FPGA, DSP, and systems engineers to integrate and validate RF hardware and firmware/software
• Create electromagnetic simulation models to predict and evaluate hardware performance

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Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related engineering discipline
• 1+ years of professional development experience in C/C++ or Python
• 1+ years of hands-on experience with radio test equipment (spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers/generators, network analyzers)
• 1+ years of RF experience with antennas or communications systems
• Must meet ITAR-related eligibility for work on U.S. government-controlled programs (see ITAR Requirements section below)

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Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline
• Experience testing active and passive RF devices (filters, amplifiers, mixers, up/down-converters)
• Familiarity with RF metrics and concepts: gain, linearity, P1dB, ACLR, EVM, PAE, S-parameters, input/output matching
• Experience with software design principles, architecture, and unit/integration testing
• Experience with environmental test methodologies (thermal chambers, temperature forcing)
• Proven ability to troubleshoot interactions between software and lab instrumentation
• Comfortable working in Windows and Linux; experience with configuration management/version control
• Active TS/SCI clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one

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Compensation & Benefits

Pay ranges (base salary, annual):

• RF Software Engineer / Level I: $135,000 - $160,000 per year
• RF Software Engineer / Level II: $155,000 - $195,000 per year

Those with an active security clearance may be eligible for a differential (example: a 10% differential up to an additional $20,000 annually) once briefed into classified work. Actual offer level and base salary will depend on experience, education, and skills.

Benefits may include long-term incentives (equity or cash awards), potential discretionary bonuses, Employee Stock Purchase Plan participation, comprehensive medical/vision/dental plans, 401(k), disability and life insurance, paid parental leave, paid time off, and statutory sick/personal leave per company policy.

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Additional Requirements & Conditions

• Candidates selected for sensitive programs may be subject to pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing
• Must be willing to work extended hours and occasional weekends as program needs require
• This role may require occasional hands-on work with lab instrumentation and travel between test facilities

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ITAR & Eligibility Requirements

To comply with U.S. export regulations and program requirements, applicants must be one of the following:

• A U.S. citizen or national; or
• A U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder); or
• A Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157; or
• An Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158; or
• Eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State

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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.