RF Engineer
Swan
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: San Francisco • California • United States
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Tech Stack
About the role
- Build and iterate RF sensing prototypes for electronic warfare (EW) mapping experiments, including assembling and tuning receive chains (antenna → filtering → LNA/attenuation → SDR) and validating performance through testing.
- Execute field-style data collections using SDR platforms (USRP-class preferred), improving measurement reliability and quality through practical iteration (gain staging, front-end behavior, timing and metadata discipline).
- Develop DSP workflows on raw I/Q data to detect and characterize signals of interest (time–frequency analysis, correlation/matched filtering, detection metrics, spectral features), with an emphasis on identifying and tracking emitters.
- Apply lightweight parameter estimation and modeling to convert measurements into interpretable outputs (e.g., power trends, signal presence probability), and identify failure modes driven by real-world propagation and receiver artifacts.
- Create simple, robust data tooling to support experimentation, including repeatable capture → replay → evaluation workflows.
- Collaborate closely with senior engineers and researchers to translate ideas into structured experiments, validate assumptions with real data, and clearly document results and lessons learned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
- Strong hands-on engineering mindset, including comfort building RF setups, swapping components, collecting measurements, and iterating until systems perform as expected.
- Foundational knowledge of digital signal processing, including several of the following:
- I/Q sampling fundamentals
- FFTs and spectrograms (STFT)
- basic filtering concepts
- correlation and matched filtering
- detection fundamentals (thresholding, false alarms, probability of detection)
- Prior exposure to SDR systems (coursework, internship, or personal projects), ideally using tools such as UHD, GNU Radio, SoapySDR, or Python-based SDR workflows, including experience capturing and interpreting spectrum and baseband data.
- Proficiency in Python (with willingness to work in C++ as needed) for analysis scripts, basic pipelines, and reproducible experimentation.
- Self-motivated and adaptable, with the ability to learn quickly, make progress independently, and ask thoughtful questions early.
Benefits
- Top-tier health, dental, vision, short-/long-term disability, and life insurance, with full employee coverage and partial coverage for dependents
- Flexible/reasonable vacation and sick leave
- 401(k) plans, FSA, HSA, and commuter benefits
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
RF sensingdigital signal processingI/Q samplingFFTspectrogramsfilteringcorrelationmatched filteringdetection fundamentalsparameter estimation
Soft Skills
hands-on engineering mindsetself-motivatedadaptableability to learn quicklyindependent progressthoughtful questioning