Senior RF System & Design Engineer

Job description

At **D-Fend Solutions**, our people are our greatest strength — and technology is our passion. Our team of innovators and subject matter experts, including veterans of elite military intelligence technology units, is transforming the way organizations protect themselves from drone threats. As the global leader in **cyber-takeover counter-drone technology**, we design and deliver advanced, software-defined solutions that empower our customers to detect, take control, and safely land unauthorized drones — with precision and reliability. Every day, we push the boundaries of innovation to meet real-world security challenges across industries and environments. We’re proud of our cutting-edge technology, our global reach, and the impact we make in securing the skies. We’re seeking passionate professionals who thrive in a fast-paced, creative, and collaborative environment — those who want to be part of the next generation of airspace security innovation. **Join D-Fend Solutions and help make the world a safer place.** **Become a D-Fender!** Work with the world’s leading cyber-takeover counter-drone technology provider and shape the future of safe airspace. We are seeking a Senior RF Systems & Design Engineer to join our RF team and help architect and industrialize our next-generation Counter-UAS (C-UAS) multi-product hardware ecosystem. In this role, you will bridge the gap between high-level Software-Defined Radio (SDR) concepts and high-yield mass production. You will guide modular architectural layouts, define core interfaces for internal and external sensors, implement critical DFx methodologies, and mentor junior talent within an evolving, fast-paced technical landscape ### Key Responsibilities **1. Architecture & System-Level Design** - Architect modular, RF transceiver systems and define cascading link budgets (NF, Gain, IP3, P1dB) from antenna to converter. - Design advanced wideband SDR front-ends and direct RF sampling topologies tailored to defeat dynamic threats. - Establish Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and hardware abstraction standards to seamlessly integrate 3rd-party subsystems (Radar, EO/RF). **2. Detailed HW Design, Simulation & Validation** - Lead schematic capture, high-frequency/high-density PCB layout supervision, and component choices (PAs, LNAs, synthesis filters). - Perform electromagnetic and circuit-level modeling (ADS, HFSS, or equivalent) to resolve structural EMI/EMC and co-site isolation issues. - Formulate strict engineering Verification & Validation (V&V) plans, overseeing environmental and compliance certifications. **3. DFx & Production Scale-Up** - Champion Design for Manufacturing/Assembly/Test (DFM/DFA/DFT) workflows to ensure stable, repeatable high-yield production loops. - Define line-calibration algorithms, built-in self-tests (BIST), and leverage Statistical Process Control (SPC) data to reduce production and field escalations. **4. Leadership & Mentorship** - Collaborate across disciplines (Mechanical, Digital, Cyber-Software) to systematically resolve thermal, power, and high-speed noise friction points. - Act as a primary technical mentor for junior engineers, implementing standard product lifecycle (PLC) gating and best practices ### Role Requirements - **Experience:** 7+ years of hands-on professional RF/Microwave hardware design and architecture experience (Defense, Aerospace, or Telecom preferred). - **Education:** Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, or a highly related discipline. - **Radio Architecture:** Deep knowledge of modern SDR structures, direct RF sampling frameworks, high-speed ADCs/DACs, and discrete active/passive components. - **Production Track Record:** Demonstrated success taking at least two multi-layered RF products through full PLC gates from initial concept into mass production. - **Tool Mastery:** Proficiency with industry simulation suites (ADS, HFSS, CST) and standard schematic/layout platforms (Altium, Cadence, or equivalent). - **Lab Capabilities:** Expertise with core diagnostic tools (Vector Network Analyzers, Spectrum/Signal Analyzers, digital signal generators, noise figure meters). ### Preferred Qualifications - Proven competency navigating complex co-site isolation and spectrum management parameters in highly congested environments. - Familiarity with RFI/EMI compliance standards (MIL-STD, CE, FCC) and mitigating failures early in layout. - An agile, structured mindset with an eagerness to introduce robust, proactive engineering workflows to a growing team.