{"id":559835,"url":"https://alion.io/job/skydio-senior-rf-design-engineer","title":"Senior RF Design Engineer","company":{"id":6786,"name":"Skydio","domain":"skydio.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/skydio","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":73,"open_postings":27,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.889,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":64,"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["San Mateo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":206000,"max":271000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":271000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":7,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"Ansys HFSS","optional":false},{"name":"Keysight ADS","optional":false},{"name":"Wi-Fi","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-08T23:08:02Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-08","last_verified_at":"2026-11-05T11:35:11Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":57,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":57},"description":"Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, from utility inspectors to first responders, soldiers in battlefield scenarios, and beyond.\nAbout the Role:\nSkydio’s RF systems connect users to our autonomous ecosystem and are foundation to the performance, reliability, and scalability of our products. As intelligent flying machines become increasingly autonomous, the demands on wireless connectivity, range, bandwidth, coexistence, and robustness continue to grow. This role offers a unique opportunity to drive innovation across existing and next-generation RF architectures while delivering highly engineered products at scale.\nWe are looking for a highly experienced Senior RF Design Engineer with deep expertise in cellular hardware development and RF system integration. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience bringing complex wireless products from architecture through production, including extensive experience with LTE/cellular integration, carrier certification, and PTCRB certification validation.\nSkydio’s highly integrated electromechanical systems present rich cross-functional engineering challenges and provide an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of autonomous systems.\nHow You’ll Make an Impact:\nCollaborate closely with EE, RF, antenna, mechanical, ID, and systems teams to optimize end-to-end wireless system performance\n\nDefine system-level wireless architecture, requirements, specifications, and performance targets\n\nDesign, integrate, and validate wireless solutions across multiple radio technologies and frequency bands, including LTE/5G cellular systems\n\nLead cellular hardware integration efforts from early architecture through bring-up, debugging, optimization, certification, and production ramp\n\nDrive RF coexistence and desense analysis across tightly integrated wireless subsystems\n\nPerform detailed circuit-level analysis to debug RF performance, interference, and desense issues, and characterize aggressor/victim relationships\n\nIdentify and mitigate noise sources impacting wireless performance at both board and system levels\n\nSupport end-to-end product development from concept, prototyping, and validation through qualification, carrier certification, PTCRB, regulatory approval, and manufacturing test\n\nDevelop and execute wireless performance characterization plans, including TRP/TIS, OTA, throughput, range, and coexistence testing\n\nPartner with external module vendors, certification labs, and carriers to ensure successful cellular integration and compliance\n\nWhat Makes You a Good Fit:\nMS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field\n\n7+ years of hands-on experience developing wireless consumer or embedded products with complex RF systems\n\nStrong cellular hardware development experience is required, including LTE modem integration, RF front-end architecture, carrier requirements, and system bring-up/debug\n\nExtensive experience supporting products through PTCRB and carrier certification processes is strongly preferred\n\nDeep technical understanding of one or more wireless technologies including LTE/cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS/GNSS, and related coexistence challenges\n\nStrong understanding of RF desense mechanisms, EMI/EMC mitigation, radiated/conducted coupling, and system-level integration challenges\n\nExperience with analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuit design and analysis\n\nExperience with PCB schematic review, layout guidance, RF routing, grounding, shielding, and power integrity best practices\n\nProven experience debugging and optimizing wireless system performance in highly integrated products\n\nHands-on experience with RF lab equipment including network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, CMW500, signal generators, power meters, near-field probes, and OTA test systems\n\nExperience using RF simulation and modeling tools such as Ansys HFSS and Keysight ADS\n\nExperience performing and analyzing TRP, TIS, OTA, throughput, and Rate vs. Range measurements\n\nStrong understanding of manufacturing test, production calibration, and wireless validation workflows\n\nAbility to independently drive complex technical problems across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced development environment\n\nObtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions\n\nCompensation: At Skydio, our compensation packages for regular, full-time employees include competitive base salaries, equity in the form of stock options, and comprehensive benefits packages. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles. The annual base salary range for this position is $206,000 - $271,000*. Fundamentally, we believe that equity is the key to long-term financial growth, and we ensure all regular, full-time employees have the opportunity to significantly benefit from the company's success. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to enroll in the Company’s group health insurance plans. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to receive the following benefits: Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay and 401K savings plan. This position and all associated benefits are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the Company’s policies and eligibility criteria.\n*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the position’s location.\nAt Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.\nQualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.\nFor positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/","description_format":"text","description_chars":6651,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":7,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan","Equity","Health insurance","Relocation assistance","Stock options"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Drones & UAVs","Computer Vision","Military Drones","Drone AI"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-09T03:21:39Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 34 · green card filings: 6","filings_12m":34,"filings_prev_12m":24,"green_card_filings_12m":6,"median_offered_wage_usd":198500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-29T16:27:21+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":3}],"liveness":{"score":45,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.601,"p_room":0.75,"age_days":57,"expected_fill_days":64,"reasons":["conf:4","stale_co","velocity","win:late","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":271000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/skydio-senior-rf-design-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/skydio-senior-rf-design-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-05T16:21:27Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":21469,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-06T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":6786},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=6786"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fskydio-senior-rf-design-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fskydio-senior-rf-design-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fskydio-senior-rf-design-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/skydio-senior-rf-design-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fskydio-senior-rf-design-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":559835}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"skydio.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":559835},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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