Principal RF Engineer - Power Amplifier

About Epirus

Epirus is a high-growth technology company dedicated to overcoming the asymmetric challenges inherent to the future of national security. Epirus' flagship product, Leonidas, is a software-defined system built using intelligent power management techniques which allow power-hungry systems to do more with less.  

Job Summary: The RF Power Amplifier Design Engineer will design, simulate, build, and test RF products, including RF circuit boards.  The main duties of this role will be to create new RF power amplifier module designs/merge existing designs into new RF boards, simulate an RF board design, and assist with getting the design fabricated, assembled, and tested. The ideal candidate for the position is someone who has experience with high power amplifier design and can own product development through all stages of conception, prototype, and productization. In this role, you will work closely with a talented engineering team in a fast-paced environment to apply emerging technologies in innovative ways to rapidly produce new products. This position will report to the Manager of RF Engineering.  

Responsibilities: 

• Design of high-power microwave amplifiers for CW or pulsed operation 
• Evaluate, characterize, and select off-the-shelf power amplifier components like discrete transistors, MMICs, couplers, splitters/combiners, etc. 
• Modeling, simulation, analysis, design, test, and optimization of high power active and passive power amplifier circuits 
• Generate schematics and work closely with mechanical, thermal, and PCB layout teams to ensure circuit designs meet requirements while striving for first pass design success 
• Board bring up, test, and circuit optimizations 
• Develop circuit verification test plans and assist with testing 
• Assist with RF system and/or subsystem requirement development and feasibility studies 
• Assist with manufacturing process and test requirement development 
• Coordinate with internal quality and supply chain teams for process improvements 
• Work with vendors to explore new device capabilities and modeling  
• Troubleshoot board level RF issues/failures and provide recommended paths forward 
• Hold design reviews and presentations with peers and act as an expert reviewer  

Basic Qualifications:

• BS or MS degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus in RF Engineering 
• 8+ years experience with broadband high power amplifier design and development in frequency ranges from UHF to C band or higher 
• Thorough understanding of high-power amplifier design process from component characterization and selection to volume manufacturing 
• Experience with RF cascade analyses, component selection, and component evaluations 
• Skilled with modeling, simulation, analysis, design, test and optimization of RF power amplifiers and supporting circuits like couplers, detectors, and bias sequencing / control 
• Highly experienced with power amplifier impedance matching circuits and optimizations 
• Experience with schematic capture and guiding PCB layout 
• Experience with test plan development and test execution 
• Experience developing circuit models and simulations using tools like Keysight ADS or Cadence AWR 
• Significant experience and expertise with test equipment like vector network analyzers (VNAs), spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters, oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, and load pull 
• 8-10 years industry experience, preferably with experience spanning the entire product lifecycle (Concept to Delivery) 
• US Citizen or permanent resident (future security clearance may be required) 

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience with 3D electromagnetic modeling and simulation using tools like Ansys HFSS, CST, and Feko or similar 
• Familiar with RF filter design 
• Experience with PCB design / layout 
• Experience with RF requirement development and feasibility analyses 
• Good written and oral communication skills 
• Collaborative; capable of working across all of the organization
• Organized; comfortable working in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment

ITAR REQUIREMENTS: 

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

At Epirus, you’ll work with technical peers and great people—and get first crack at some of the defining technology challenges of our time. Here, “impossible” is just a challenge. We're a diverse, fast-growing team of change-makers fueling the future of energy with revolutionary solutions. Join us and rewrite the rules.