Senior RF Engineer

Senior RF Engineer - Antenna Design (AU) Position at DroneShield (ASX:DRO) located in Sydney CBD. Work with cutting‑edge AI technology to make the world safer and more secure. DroneShield offers opportunities to solve complex technical problems in the counter‑drone sector, serving militaries, government agencies, airports, critical infrastructure, law enforcement and others. The company is a listed defense player in Australia that has raised $250 m in 2024 and is expanding from 400 to 500 staff by the end of 2026. Global presence includes the USA, Denmark, Germany, Dubai and distributors in over 70 countries. About The Role DroneShield seeks a Senior RF Engineer reporting to the Hardware Architecture Manager in the Sensors and Effectors Team. The team develops modular RF‑based sensors and effectors for man‑portable, vehicle‑mounted and fixed‑site configurations. Key technical challenges include wide‑band high‑performance RF paths, high‑power amplification, and high‑speed digital circuitry for sensor operation. The role focuses on antenna design, providing inputs to hardware architecture, designing antenna structures, guiding integration, measuring radiated performance, and resolving complex radiated design issues. Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations Self‑manage workload to meet business objectives. Conduct 3D electromagnetic simulation using CST. Expertise in antenna characterisation and measurement methodologies. Collaborate within the Hardware Architecture team to provide feasible antenna design inputs. Lead the antenna development process through manufacturing. Work cross‑functionally with Mechanical Engineering to produce manufacturable antenna solutions. Define integration requirements and communicate with system and development teams. Support Hardware Development with 3DEM simulation services. Develop antenna characterisation measurement capabilities and processes. Engage external antenna vendors. Apply industry documentation and QC practices. Drive radiated experimentation for near‑ and far‑field isolation solutions. Provide guidelines for antenna performance, coverage and isolation in field deployments. Optimize wide‑band antenna pattern and efficiency; minimise interference, improve signal quality, and increase range and reliability. Stay current with drone technology and counter‑drone measures. Collaborate with hardware engineers, mechanical engineers and project managers to embed antenna design into overall system design. Qualifications, Experience and Skills A degree in Electronics Engineering or a related field; PhD or Masters in an electromagnetic field preferred. Minimum 10 years experience in antenna design within an engineering design team, preferably for anti‑drone or electronic warfare systems. Mandatory skills: Expertise using 3DEM simulation software such as CST (preferred) and HFSS. Experience designing integrated and coaxially terminated antenna structures. Experience taking antennas from concept through manufacturing. Experience performing antenna characterisation measurements. Working understanding of RF propagation. Knowledge of high‑power antenna design. Proficiency with RF benchtop equipment: VNAs, spectrum analysers, power amplifiers, signal generators. Design‑for‑Manufacture considerations for antennas. Experience using, maintaining or procuring radiated chambers. Desirable skills: Experience designing wide‑band directional and omni‑directional antennas. Knowledge of antenna miniaturisation and isolation techniques. Experience assembling physical antenna prototypes. Experience with cavity filters or multiplexer design. Experience with design documentation, drawings and configuration management. Experience designing hardware with integrated antennas. Experience with Altium for SCH/PCB design. Understanding of PCB layout and mechanical shielding for high‑speed digital and RF circuitry. Experience with RF simulation tools (Microwave Office, ADS, or similar). RF system design including link budgets, cascaded analysis, DSP blocks for transceivers. Experience defining RF module specifications from architectural requirements. Experience in RF circuit design (transceivers, amplifiers, low‑noise amps, filters, diplexers, ADCs, DACs). RF module design including mechanical and environmental aspects (SWAP‑C, EMC). Knowledge of mainstream RF modulation techniques. Familiarity with designing test plans and procedures. Experience in technical team leadership and mentoring. Note: Recruitment agencies are not accepted unless specifically instructed. Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Full‑time Job function Engineering and Information Technology Industries Defense and Space Manufacturing #J-18808-Ljbffr