RF Engineer

RF Engineer Opportunity Supporting Next Gen A&D Technology!! Job Description This role focuses on the design, development, and testing of RF hardware systems across the full development lifecycle, from system requirements definition through to delivery. You will collaborate closely with multi-disciplinary teams to translate complex system requirements into robust RF designs, support assembly and integration, and contribute to verification and test activities. Under the guidance of Sr staff, you will help build advanced RF systems, often for airborne and other mission-critical applications, in an environment that values innovation, technical rigor, and worklife balance. Responsibilities

- Contribute to the development of RF hardware systems from initial system requirements definition through design, integration, test, and delivery.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand system requirements and specifications as they relate to assigned RF tasks.
- Design and implement RF hardware under the guidance of Sr engineers, ensuring alignment with system-level performance and interface requirements.
- Identify and select appropriate RF system components, including active and passive devices, antennas, connectors, cables, and physical enclosures.
- Perform supporting analyses such as RF link budgets and cascade analysis to inform and justify design decisions.
- Develop and interpret RF block diagrams to describe system architectures and signal chains.
- Support assembly, initial operation, and checkout of RF systems, including defining test procedures and criteria.
- Assist with test planning, test execution, and data analysis to verify RF system performance against requirements.
- Use RF test and measurement equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers (VNAs), signal generators, oscilloscopes, power meters, sensors, and network analyzers to characterize and troubleshoot systems.
- Participate in the delivery of advanced development hardware, ensuring systems meet technical and operational objectives.
- Provide technical input and information for briefings and formal technical reviews, including SRRs, PDRs, CDRs, and TIMs.
- Work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, often under tight deadlines, to deliver mission-focused RF solutions.
- Support RF systems development and test activities for airborne applications and other platforms as needed.

Essential Skills

- Applicable knowledge of RF systems and their principles of design, development, and verification.
- Experience with requirements verification, test planning, test execution, and RF data analysis.
- Experience in the delivery of advanced development hardware.
- Ability to interpret and create RF block diagrams to represent system architectures and signal chains.
- Proficiency in performing RF link budget calculations and cascade analysis, including small-signal gain, noise figure, and linearity analysis.
- Familiarity with RF system design and development for radar or similar applications.
- Hands-on experience with RF test and measurement equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers (VNAs), signal generators, oscilloscopes, power meters, sensors, and network analyzers.
- Experience with RF systems development and test activities, including integration and checkout.
- Proficiency with relevant RF design and analysis tools such as Cadence AWR and Python for RF design and analysis tasks.
- Ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment and meet deadlines.
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to provide information for briefings and technical reviews (SRRs, PDRs, CDRs, TIMs).
- Self-motivated and detail-oriented approach to technical problem solving.
- Bachelors degree in a relevant field and at least 2 years of applicable experience, or a Masters degree; equivalent experience will be considered.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

- Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated experience with radar systems and related RF architectures.
- Experience in electronic warfare (EW) and RF convergence applications.
- Experience in microwave engineering and advanced RF circuit design.
- Experience with analog and digital signal processing for RF and radar applications.
- Exposure to embedded software development in support of RF or radar systems.
- Experience with physics-based modeling and simulation of RF or radar systems.
- Experience working within structured technical review processes, including SRRs, PDRs, CDRs, and TIMs.
- Ability to contribute to real-time processing solutions and digital signal processing chains for radar systems as part of a broader engineering team.

Work Environment The role operates in a hybrid work arrangement with a combination of office-based and remote work, providing flexibility while maintaining strong collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams. The office environment is professional and focused on delivering advanced National Defense capabilities through mission-driven RF and radar systems development. You will work within a System Development Division that considers the entire lifecycle of solutionsfrom conceptualization and architecture through development and deploymentleveraging novel technologies to deliver first-of-a-kind systems. The culture emphasizes an employee-first philosophy and supports a healthy worklife balance, allowing you to be productive in an environment that suits you. Day-to-day work involves using modern RF design tools such as Cadence AWR and Python, along with a full suite of RF test equipment including spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, power meters, sensors, and network analyzers. The setting is office-based laboratory and engineering space, with standard professional attire appropriate for a technical, defense-focused organization.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Woburn, MA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $110000.00 - $150000.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Woburn, MA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 3, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Woburn,MA. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.