Senior RF Engineer

About Icarus

Icarus was founded on the belief that the Stratosphere is the Forgotten Frontier and that reclaiming it will define the next era of aerospace. We build solar-powered aircraft that fly at 60,000 ft for weeks at a time, delivering persistent, affordable, and scalable presence from this layer of the atmosphere. Our mission is to re-establish and maintain dominance in the Stratosphere.

About the Role

This is not a normal engineering job. You will work side by side with the CEO and a small team of world-class builders, owning your subsystem end-to-end: design it, build it, break it, fix it, validate it in the desert, and fly it. You will be a core executor of flight systems, taking them from concept to reality and driving rapid iteration loops.

We are pioneers, not corporate managers. Icarus deliberately optimizes for a high signal (engineers) to noise (management) ratio, where engineering, flight, and execution matter more than process, politics, or management overhead. You must thrive under pressure, learn fast, troubleshoot in the field, and push hardware to its limits. We move fast. We go to Mojave at 4 am. We expect results and an obsession with quality and speed.

Culture & Environment

We are a high-trust, no-BS team where everyone pulls their weight. We want builders, not tourists or bystanders. There is no hand-holding, no fluff, no fake projects, and no slide decks. Just raw engineering, real hardware, and real flight. You will operate with minimal supervision and full extreme ownership.

Hiring Process

Technical interview
One-on-one with the CEO
Meet the team in-person

Equal Opportunity

We're an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Work location

Work model: On-site

1536, East 77th Street, Florence-Firestone, Firestone Park, Los Angeles County, California, 90001, United States

Firestone Park, California

Key Responsibilities

check_circleDesign, build, and fly RF and communications systems for long-endurance stratospheric aircraft
check_circleOwn RF subsystems end to end including architecture, link budgets, component selection, integration, test, and flight validation
check_circleDesign and integrate radios, antennas, RF front ends, and data links for LOS and BLOS operation
check_circleDrive RF performance through analysis, simulation, bench testing, and flight data
check_circleLead EMI/EMC mitigation across avionics, power, and payload systems
check_circleSupport integration, production bring-up, and flight operations in the desert
check_circleCollaborate with avionics, GNC, electrical, mechanical, and software teams to deliver robust flight communications

Requirements

verified2+ years designing and deploying real RF systems for aerospace, defense, UAVs, or similarly demanding environments
verifiedStrong fundamentals in RF theory, electromagnetics, and communications systems
verifiedExperience with link budgets, antenna design or selection, RF propagation, and system-level trade studies
verifiedHands-on experience with RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, VNAs, signal generators, power meters)
verifiedExperience debugging RF systems in the field

Benefits & Perks

check_circleHealth, dental, and vision insurancecheck_circleMeaningful equity grantscheck_circleDaily lunch providedcheck_circleUnlimited celsius (likely a typo for unlimited PTO or similar, but explicitly listed)

Frequently asked questions about Senior RF Engineer at Icarus, Inc.

What does a Senior RF Engineer at Icarus, Inc. do?expand_more

In this Senior RF Engineer at Icarus, Inc. role, you will design, build, and fly rf and communications systems for long-endurance stratospheric aircraft; own rf subsystems end to end including architecture, link budgets, component selection, integration, test, and flight validation; design and integrate radios, antennas, rf front ends, and data links for los and blos operation; and drive rf performance through analysis, simulation, bench testing, and flight data.

What are the requirements for this Senior RF Engineer role?expand_more

Icarus, Inc. is looking for candidates who meet the following requirements: 2+ years designing and deploying real RF systems for aerospace, defense, UAVs, or similarly demanding environments; Strong fundamentals in RF theory, electromagnetics, and communications systems; Experience with link budgets, antenna design or selection, RF propagation, and system-level trade studies; Hands-on experience with RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, VNAs, signal generators, power meters); and Experience debugging RF systems in the field.

Where is the Senior RF Engineer role at Icarus, Inc. located?expand_more

Senior RF Engineer at Icarus, Inc. is based in 1536, East 77th Street, Florence-Firestone, Firestone Park, Los Angeles County, California, 90001, United States. This is a on-site role.

Is this Senior RF Engineer job remote, hybrid, or on-site?expand_more

Icarus, Inc. has listed this Senior RF Engineer role as on-site.

How much experience is required for this Senior RF Engineer role?expand_more

Senior RF Engineer at Icarus, Inc. typically requires 2+ years of relevant experience at the senior level.

What skills do you need for the Senior RF Engineer role at Icarus, Inc.?expand_more

Key skills for Senior RF Engineer at Icarus, Inc. include RF; Communications Systems; Link Budgets; Antenna Design; RF Propagation; Emi/emc Mitigation; Avionics; and GNC.

What category does the Senior RF Engineer role belong to?expand_more

Senior RF Engineer at Icarus, Inc. is part of the engineering job category on Recrutus.