RF Engineer

RF Engineer

Destinus

Zurich, Switzerland

Description

Imagine this... you're out in the field, UAVs buzzing overhead, and you're the person everyone turns to when communication systems need to be flawless. You're deep in RF testing, your custom test bench humming, the spectrum analyzer lighting up with live signals, and you're on a mission to make the invisible visible. Whether you're debugging an RF link in the lab or pushing a new comms system through its paces at 10,000 meters, you're the one making sure everything just works.

What You’ll Do

• Get your hands dirty setting up state-of-the-art test benches and measurement systems that test the limits of UAV communication systems.
• Procure and configure RF lab equipment that lets you tear down signal paths and optimize them for the real world.
• Design and build wired and wireless test setups.
• Create RF debug tools that helps engineers across avionics, production, and field ops.
• Own and execute RF link budget calculations, propagation modeling, and sensitivity analyses – because "close enough" isn't good enough.
• Take RF systems from lab bench to field – validating them with spectrum analyzers, SDRs, network analyzers, and your own custom Python scripts.
• Work shoulder to shoulder with avionics, embedded systems, and flight operations teams to crush integration challenges.
• Support field testing and deployment, from antenna selection to in-field debugging and live mission comms support.
• Shape the future of UAV comms by influencing system architecture and antenna array integration for future aircraft generations.

What You’ll Need

Must-Have

• Strong background in RF systems engineering and signal chain design.
• Hands-on mastery of RF components – LNAs, PAs, mixers, filters, RFICs – and RF PCB layout know-how.
• Proficiency in Python – especially for test automation with PyVISA and SCPI.
• Solid grip on digital modulation techniques like QPSK, QAM, OFDM and how they play out in real-world waveforms.
• Experience with RF test gear – spectrum/network analyzers, SDRs – and running lab and field validations.
• Understanding of UAV antenna selection and design – omnidirectional, directional arrays, and their key performance metrics.

Nice-to-Have

• Know your way around HFSS, RF simulation, or RF system design tools.
• Familiarity with spectrum management standards like FCC, ITU or MIL-STD.

Who You Are

• You thrive in a fast-paced environment where innovation moves at lightning speed.
• When others see obstacles, you see opportunities.
• You love autonomy, figuring things out, and taking ownership of challenges.
• You think in systems but love the details – every connector, every decibel matters to you.
• You’re driven by curiosity, precision, and the thrill of making things work in the real world.
• You’re a builder, a problem-solver, and a collaborator – equally at home in a lab, a hangar, or a test range.