RF Engineer, Desense / Front-End Design

Location: San Jose, CA

Department: Engineering, Product, & Design

Work Authorization Requirement: Due to the nature of our business and compliance with federal regulations, all candidates must be a "U.S. Person". Upon hire, you will be required to provide documentation verifying your status as a U.S. Citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Role: RF Engineer, Desense / Front-End Design

Location: 2550 N First Street Suite 250, San Jose, California 95131

Compensation*: $150,000-$185,000 + benefits

Role Description:

As an RF Engineer focused on Desense and Front-End Design, you will ensure Rivet’s wireless systems operate with reliability and precision. You will design and optimize RF front-end circuits, debug desense issues, and integrate multiple wireless technologies (cellular, GPS, Wi-Fi) into compact products. This role blends hands-on debugging with system-level analysis to deliver robust RF performance in the field.

Responsibilities

The objective of this role is to guarantee coexistence and performance of Rivet’s RF systems within ruggedized, multi-sensor devices. By analyzing noise sources, designing desense methodologies, and implementing corrective actions, you will deliver RF subsystems that maintain integrity under challenging real-world conditions.

Role Requirements:

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Electrical Engineering.
• Strong RF fundamentals with expertise in front-end design, desense analysis, or system-level RF optimization.
• Hands-on experience designing and optimizing RF circuits for cellular and connectivity systems.
• Proven ability to debug desense issues and validate coexistence impacts.
• Experience integrating wireless technologies such as cellular, GPS, and Wi-Fi.
• Knowledge of desense mitigation (shielding, grounding, filtering) using both simulation and measurement data.
• Skilled with RF test equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers).
• Familiarity with RF schematics and PCB layout best practices.
• 3+ years of experience designing RF hardware for mass-produced products.
• Strong sense of ownership and ability to independently manage projects.
• Curiosity, adaptability, and eagerness to learn.
• Must be a US Person (citizen or permanent resident).

*Total compensation may vary within this range and is determined by years and level of relevant experience, job-related skills, education, and other factors. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for equity grants and other forms of compensation. Eligible employees also receive a competitive benefits package, including unlimited PTO.

About the Company

About Rivet  

Rivet is an American company building integrated task systems — fusing hardened hardware with software, sensors, AI, and networking — for industrial workforces and defense personnel. We create capabilities that multiply the effectiveness of every individual and withstand the world’s toughest environments. 

We serve the people who build, operate, maintain, and defend our way of life. From technicians and engineers to first responders and service members, they embody the hard work, ingenuity, and meritocratic values that drive Western prosperity. Yet too often they are forced to rely on outdated tools that fail under modern pressures. Rivet exists to reset that priority. 

At Rivet, you’ll join a mission-driven team that fuses disciplines to deliver decisive outcomes where they matter most. Whether shaping our technology, strengthening our partnerships, or building our culture, every role here contributes to equipping the front lines with the modern systems they deserve. 

EOE