Lead RF Hardware Systems & Design Engineer

Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States

Department: Systems Engineering

About Eridan

At Eridan we believe in the power of collaboration and communication to achieve our mission: connect the planet to empower a sustainable, shared future. That mission is possible with our patented transmitter which decreases the cost and power required to roll out 5G by 10x when deployed globally. This is all facilitated through our offices: our Sunnyvale headquarters has big windows (even in the lab!), is walking distance to downtown and the Caltrain, and fits the entire team in the cafeteria for our frequent company parties. Learn more about our mission here.

About the Role

The Lead RF Hardware Systems & Design Engineer is a hands-on technical leadership role driving systems engineering for Eridan's radio product lines. This position is ideal for an engineer who wants to stay deeply engaged in RF hardware design—architecture, lab work, and integration—while taking the next step in their career to mentor and manage a small team. You will serve as the engineering owner of system-level specifications, translating customer needs into rigorous deliverables and ensuring seamless alignment across hardware, software, and manufacturing. 

Key Responsibilities

Systems Engineering & Hands-On Design

• Own the architecture, integration, and verification for your product scope. Personally engage in lab work (RF debug, board bring-up) and drive the resolution of cross-subsystem technical issues.

Requirements Ownership

• Take full ownership of system-level specifications, serving as the bridge between Solutions Engineering and R&D. Translate operational and customer requirements into rigorous engineering deliverables.

Team Leadership

• Step up to manage and mentor a small team of systems engineers (2 - 3 direct reports), taking ownership of their technical guidance and career development.

Cross-Functional Execution

• Drive hardware-software alignment by clearly translating hardware design decisions into actionable requirements for software/firmware teams, and coordinate with Test and Operations on qualification activities.

Manufacturing & Vendor Ownership

• Define standardized design protocols and conduct thorough internal reviews. Take complete responsibility for production readiness design outcomes, ensuring internal processes set external partners up for success.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field
• Experience & Leadership: 5+ years in RF systems engineering (at the radio unit, subsystem, or component level) with a strong desire to step into a leadership role and manage a small team
• Hands-on RF Design: End-to-end hardware development experience (schematic to PCB)—featuring circuit-level fluency in transceiver architectures, cellular TDD/FDD systems, layout impedance best practices, and power distribution analysis (not solely system-level oversight)
• Product Lifecycle: Proven track record of navigating the full hardware lifecycle, scaling products from initial conceptual prototypes to robust, high-volume production-ready designs
• Requirements & Integration: Proven ability to translate customer requirements into rigorous engineering deliverables and drive complex hardware/software co-development
• Communication & Assertiveness: Strong communication skills across cross-functional audiences, including the ability to push back and firmly hold a technical position during rigorous systems design meetings
• 5G Radio Hardware: Experience with 5G systems, including O-RAN, small cell, or macro radio architectures

Nice to Have

• Experience at a startup or growth-stage hardware company
• Experience with CU/DU/RU integration
• Strong understanding of communications theory
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, C#, MATLAB) for automation and testing
• Familiarity with 3GPP specifications
• Hands-on experience with advanced lab testing equipment (e.g., VNAs, spectrum analyzers)

Perks of working at Eridan

• Work on new technology that will make a significant impact on global infrastructure
• Ability to learn, develop, and advance within a flexible environment 
• Collaborate with smart, passionate, and helpful co-workers 
• Celebrate progress company-wide
• Pre-IPO equity 
• 401K with automatic match 
• Health, Vision and Dental insurance

Salary Range

Given our anticipated growth, we are open to hiring individuals with varying levels of experience to fill this role. Salary will be commensurate with job-related skills, experience and other relevant factors. The base salary range for the primary location of this role is between $160,000 and $190,000 plus stock options and benefits. 

Eridan is an equal opportunity employer. We value and celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.