Senior RF Design Engineer
San Mateo, California, United States$206k - $271kFull-timePosted 5mo ago
About the role
Senior RF Design Engineer with deep expertise in cellular hardware development and RF system integration. Responsibilities include architecture, bring-up, certification, and production ramp for LTE/5G cellular systems within Skydio’s highly integrated electromechanical platforms.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate closely with EE, RF, antenna, mechanical, ID, and systems teams to optimize end-to-end wireless system performance
- Define system-level wireless architecture, requirements, specifications, and performance targets
- Design, integrate, and validate wireless solutions across multiple radio technologies and frequency bands, including LTE/5G cellular systems
- Lead cellular hardware integration efforts from early architecture through bring-up, debugging, optimization, certification, and production ramp
- Drive RF coexistence and desense analysis across tightly integrated wireless subsystems
- Perform detailed circuit-level analysis to debug RF performance, interference, and desense issues, and characterize aggressor/victim relationships
- Identify and mitigate noise sources impacting wireless performance at both board and system levels
- Support end-to-end product development from concept, prototyping, and validation through qualification, carrier certification, PTCRB, regulatory approval, and manufacturing test
- Develop and execute wireless performance characterization plans, including TRP/TIS, OTA, throughput, range, and coexistence testing
- Partner with external module vendors, certification labs, and carriers to ensure successful cellular integration and compliance
Qualifications
- MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field
- 7+ years of hands-on experience developing wireless consumer or embedded products with complex RF systems
- Strong cellular hardware development experience is required, including LTE modem integration, RF front-end architecture, carrier requirements, and system bring-up/debug
- Extensive experience supporting products through PTCRB and carrier certification processes is strongly preferred
- Deep technical understanding of one or more wireless technologies including LTE/cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS/GNSS, and related coexistence challenges
- Strong understanding of RF desense mechanisms, EMI/EMC mitigation, radiated/conducted coupling, and system-level integration challenges
- Experience with analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuit design and analysis
- Experience with PCB schematic review, layout guidance, RF routing, grounding, shielding, and power integrity best practices
- Proven experience debugging and optimizing wireless system performance in highly integrated products
- Hands-on experience with RF lab equipment including network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, CMW500, signal generators, power meters, near-field probes, and OTA test systems
- Experience using RF simulation and modeling tools such as Ansys HFSS and Keysight ADS
- Experience performing and analyzing TRP, TIS, OTA, throughput, and Rate vs. Range measurements
- Strong understanding of manufacturing test, production calibration, and wireless validation workflows
- Ability to independently drive complex technical problems across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced development environment
- Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions
Skills
Required:LTE/cellular hardware developmentRF design and analysisRF testing and measurement
Nice to have:RF simulation tools
Benefits
- Paid vacation time
- Sick leave
- Holiday pay
- 401K savings plan
- Group health insurance plans
Last updated Sep 17, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
About Skydio
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