Senior RF Systems Engineer
NewSenior RF Systems Engineer
Who We Are
Kymeta revolutionizes satellite communications through Intelligent Communications Platforms (ICPs). Our electronically steered flat panel antennas enable seamless communications on-the-move. Kymeta solutions serve government, military, maritime, transport, and public safety clients worldwide, providing uninterrupted connectivity and spatial intelligence anywhere, anytime. With over 150 patents, Kymeta is shaping the future of global communications. For more information, visit
What We Need
Kymeta is seeking a Senior RF Systems Engineer to develop and integrate advanced RF sensing, radar, satellite communications, and spectrum awareness capabilities leveraging Kymeta's electronically steered antenna technology. This role will serve as a key technical contributor in the design, integration, characterization, and deployment of RF systems that extend Kymeta's technology into new operational domains.
The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in RF systems, signal processing architectures, software-defined radios, and digital receiver technologies. Working closely with systems engineers, software engineers, FPGA developers, product teams, customers, and external partners, this individual will develop and integrate RF solutions that transform customer mission requirements into deployable capabilities.
This position supports advanced applications programs focused on RF sensing, radar, passive sensing, satellite communications, geolocation, spectrum awareness, and research and development efforts. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced prototyping environment, moving rapidly from concept development through laboratory testing, field demonstrations, customer evaluations, and operational deployments.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Serve as the RF technical lead for advanced applications involving RF sensing, radar, satellite communications, spectrum awareness, and related technologies
Develop RF architectures and signal chains supporting sensing, communications, and radar applications
Support integration of electronically steered antennas, software-defined radio platforms, digitizers, FPGA-based processing systems, timing sources, and networking equipment into operational systems
Define RF performance requirements including sensitivity, dynamic range, noise figure, interference mitigation, signal quality, and system calibration
Develop approaches for IF digitization, digital receiver architectures, and RF data transport within distributed sensing systems
Collaborate with FPGA and software engineers to implement digital signal transport and processing architectures utilizing standards such as VITA 49 and related RF over IP frameworks
Support development and integration of modem-centric and sensor-centric processing architectures
Evaluate, select, and integrate commercial and government RF technologies including SDRs, digitizers, timing systems, RF sensors, converters, and signal processing platforms
Develop and execute laboratory characterization, integration testing, calibration activities, and field demonstrations
Analyze collected RF and system performance data to identify deficiencies, troubleshoot issues, and improve operational effectiveness
Lead RF measurement activities utilizing spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, signal generators, digitizers, and other laboratory instrumentation
Support integration of geolocation, interference detection, spectrum monitoring, and RF situational awareness capabilities
Collaborate with systems, software, and customer teams to transform operational requirements into deployable RF solutions
Support proposal development, customer engagements, technical briefings, and technology roadmap activities
Ability to travel 10%
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
8+ years of RF engineering experience in communications, radar, sensing, defense, aerospace, or related technical discipline
Strong understanding of RF receiver and transmitter architectures, frequency conversion, filtering, digitization, timing, synchronization, and calibration
Experience with SDR platforms and digital receiver architectures
Experience integrating RF systems with FPGA-based platforms
Understanding of IF digitization techniques and digital transport of RF data
Familiarity with VITA 49, digital IF, RF over IP, or similar RF transport architectures
Experience with satellite communications, radar systems, RF sensing systems, electronic warfare systems, geolocation systems, or spectrum monitoring systems
Strong proficiency with RF test equipment including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, vector network analyzers, oscilloscopes, and digitizers
Experience with MATLAB and Python for RF analysis, automation, and data visualization
Experience operating within Linux-based development and test environments
Strong communication skills and ability to work directly with customers, partners, and multidisciplinary engineering teams
U.S. citizenship required
Active security clearance preferred
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, applied physics, or a related technical discipline
Advanced degree preferred but not required
Equivalent combinations of education and relevant industry, military, government laboratory, or defense experience will be considered
The ideal candidate combines strong RF engineering fundamentals with hands-on experience integrating RF, FPGA, networking, and software technologies into operational systems
COMPENSATION
Kymeta is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. In the spirit of pay transparency, we have determined the salary range for this position to be $140,000 - $200,000. This is the full base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range would be atypical, in order to allow for future and continued salary growth. Compensation packages are based on a variety of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to: skill set, years and depth of experience, certifications, and geography. The total compensation package for this position includes an annual target bonus of 10%, stock options, and benefits listed below. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer.
BENEFITS
We offer a competitive benefits package which includes:
Medical Plans: A choice between two competitive options
Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts
Vision & Dental
Life/AD&D
Employee Assistance Program
401k
Paid Time Off
Exempt employees: Flexible PTO and 12 paid holidays per year
Nonexempt employees: 15 vacation days, 7 sick days and 12 paid holidays per year
Kymeta is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.