Microwave/RF Engineer

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability. 

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

We have multiple openings for a Microwave/RF Engineer to apply commercial and in-house simulation tools for the analysis and design of advanced electromagnetic systems in support of national security missions. You will be responsible for using your engineering judgement and modeling experience for a wide variety of projects including high-power microwave, antenna design, Radio Frequency (RF) Electromagnetics, and radar modeling. These positions are in the Computational Electromagnetics Group of the Computational Engineering Division (CED), within the Engineering Directorate.

Depending on your assignment, these positions may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week. 

These positions will be filled at either level depending on your qualifications. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if you are selected at the higher level.

You will

• Provide electromagnetics knowledge to interdisciplinary teams, work under general supervision, assist in determining own tasks and milestones, consult on experimental design, analyze, and recommend solutions, using industry-standard modeling tools such as Ansys HFSS and FEKO, and run in-house simulation tools on world-leading supercomputers.
• Contribute subject matter electromagnetics (EM) knowledge to multidisciplinary teams.
• Develop computational tools and techniques for analyzing full-wave electromagnetics problems.
• Organize and analyze data from research, present results at technical meetings and national conferences, and publish novel research results in peer-reviewed literature.
• Provide engineering solutions for research projects with competing priorities, implement research concepts in a multidisciplinary team environment where commitments and deadlines are important to project success.
• Conduct research in high frequency electromagnetics, radio frequency circuits, or wireless technology to enable the development of new state-of-the-art systems for Laboratory-relevant applications.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level

• Serve as a project leader for analysis and design projects.
• Balance management of multiple projects/tasks and priorities of customers to ensure deadlines are met.
• Perform advanced research in at least one of the following areas including computational electromagnetics, radar modeling, and RF propagation modeling.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or closely related field, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Comprehensive experience with one or more of the following areas including high frequency electromagnetics/antenna design, radar system modelling, radio frequency circuits, wireless communications, wireless systems.
• Experience in design, simulation, and experimental execution for electromagnetic/RF systems.
• Proficiency with commercial electromagnetic simulation tools such as HFSS, FEKO, COMSOL, CST Microwave Studio.
• Proficiency with radio frequency and/or circuit simulation tools such as ADS, Altium, LTSpice.
• Ability to work independently, as well as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to prepare and present papers, reports, proposals, and document results to your team.

Additional qualifications at the SES.3 level 

• Ability to develop and conduct independent research projects with minimal guidance.
• Advanced knowledge in RF analysis and design.
• Advanced experience as a project manager of principal investigator for electromagnetics-related efforts.

Qualifications We Desire

• PhD in Engineering, Physics, or closely related field.
• Experience with high power systems and/or design approaches for electromagnetic compatibility.
• Experience with RF transceiver design for wireless communication including use of FPGAs and/or software defined radios.
• Experience with system level modeling and/or simulation for wireless systems. Experience with techniques for interference mitigation and array synchronization.
• Ability to design, implement, and analyze techniques for distributed arrays.
• Experience with software development using C/C++/Fortran90 in UNIX environment.

Pay Range

$146,340 - $222,564 Annually

$146,340 - $185,544 Annually for the SES.2 level

$175,530 - $222,564 Annually for the SES.3 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.  If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

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To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

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