CX2, Inc.

Lead RF Hardware Engineer

Posted 4 Days Ago

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El Segundo, CA, USA

In-Office

190K-225K Annually

Mid level

Aerospace • Hardware • Software • Defense

The Role

Leads end-to-end development of RF components and systems, including requirements, schematic and PCB layout, bring-up, measurement, production, testing, and system integration. Automates RF measurement and data processing, supports new product introduction and design-for-manufacturing, debugs complex electrical systems, and mentors engineers. The role requires expertise in RF fundamentals, link budgets, analog/mixed-signal design, wideband architectures, and antenna and receiver design, with onsite work in El Segundo and eligibility for a security clearance.

Summary Generated by Built In

CX2 is a next-generation defense technology company founded to deliver spectrum dominance for the United States and our allies. CX2’s AI-enabled hardware and software platforms detect, disrupt and defend the electromagnetic spectrum across land, air, sea and space domains.

CX2 is seeking a Lead RF Engineer to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have experience in cradle to grave support of various RF components - including software defined radios, amplifiers, antennas, and frequency converters. Experience leading a team of engineers is also strongly preferred.

This role requires an onsite presence in our El Segundo, CA HQ; a remote work environment is not considered for this opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

Cradle to grave support of various RF components - requirements capture, schematic capture, layout, bring up, measurement, production, test, and RF system level support.

Automate bench measurement setups for RF test data collection, and post-processing to make informed, data-driven conclusions

Design, integrate, and maintain complex RF systems at a blazing speed. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in New Product Introduction (NPI), design-for-manufacturing, and design-for-test.

Mentor and coach engineers - to effectively do this the ideal candidate would have deep experience with both eCAD and CAD software, a solid understanding of RF fundamentals, and an advanced proficiency in either Python and/or MATLAB.

Qualifications

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
A minimum of 4 years’ total experience, with a minimum of 2 years’ experience leading a cross-functional engineering team
Experience creating link budgets and aligning them to real-world test data
Strong understanding of RF system parameters including gain, cascaded noise figure, figure-of-merit, linearity, and band flatness
Willingness to debug complex electrical systems and methodically identify root causes of issues
Antenna and receiver design across analog/RF/mixed-signal domains: mixers, PLLs/LOs, gain/linearity/noise trades; ability to turn simulations into reality.
Channelizers & wideband architectures: filter banks, analog/digital down conversion, sample-rate planning, clocking/synchronization.
Willingness to support critical test events that occasionally require extended hours/weekends
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
Must be a U.S. Person (see ITAR Regulations below) due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities

Bonus Points

Experience putting hardware through formal qualification campaigns and implementing robust screening of units in a manufacturing environment

Experience with RF systems on UAVs or for military applications

Experience with GNU Radio or similar DSP frameworks

Experience scaling RF products and technologies

What We Offer

Competitive salary, stock options and benefits, including health, vision and dental.
401K enrollment at 90 days.
Unlimited PTO + most Federal Holidays observed.
Collaborative and inclusive work environment.
Access to the latest tools and technologies.
High levels of responsibility and autonomy.
Professional growth and development opportunities.
Access to the hardest problems in electronic warfare.

ITAR Regulations

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a US Citizen, Green Card holder, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

CX2 is a next-generation defense technology company securing spectrum dominance for the United States and its allies. We build AI-enabled hardware and software platforms to detect, disrupt, and defend the electromagnetic spectrum across land, air, sea, and space. Our systems are deployed in the most contested operational environments in the world. We’re backed by leading venture investors in the defense ecosystem and led by founders with track records at Meta, SpaceX, Epirus, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Equal Opportunity Employer

CX2 is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in compliance with the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

To view CX2's privacy policy, please visit: https://www.cx2.com/privacy

Skills Required

BS or MS degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
At least 4 years of total professional experience
At least 2 years leading a cross-functional engineering team
Experience creating link budgets and aligning them with real-world test data
Strong understanding of RF system parameters, including gain, cascaded noise figure, figure of merit, linearity, and band flatness
Ability to debug complex electrical systems and identify root causes methodically
Experience with antenna and receiver design across analog, RF, and mixed-signal domains
Knowledge of mixers, PLLs, local oscillators, gain, linearity, and noise tradeoffs
Knowledge of channelizers and wideband architectures, including filter banks, analog/digital downconversion, sample-rate planning, clocking, and synchronization
Willingness to support critical test events that may require extended hours or weekends
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
Must be a U.S. Person or eligible to obtain required ITAR authorizations
Experience with formal hardware qualification campaigns and manufacturing screening
Experience with RF systems on UAVs or in military applications
Experience with GNU Radio or similar DSP frameworks
Experience scaling RF products and technologies

CX2, Inc. Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about CX2, Inc. and has not been reviewed or approved by CX2, Inc..

Equity Value & Accessibility — Job postings consistently include stock options alongside base salary, signaling accessible ownership participation for new hires. This indicates equity is a standard component of offers at the company’s current stage.
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Listings describe generous PTO and note that most Federal Holidays are observed, indicating above-baseline time off for a small defense startup. This points to meaningful paid leave even without published accrual counts.
Healthcare Strength — Role descriptions state inclusion of health, vision, and dental insurance, establishing core medical coverage as part of the package. The presence of these coverages signals baseline healthcare support for employees.