Drone Communications/RF Engineer

Drone Mid-level (L4 equivalent) 2-5 years

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Anduril

Skydio

Shield AI

Zipline

DJI

AeroVironment

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The job description

Tech stack. RF link budgets, C2 datalinks, telemetry radios, antenna design and placement, spectrum analysis, SDR (GNU Radio), LTE/5G modules, satellite backhaul, Python

About the role

You will join a drone technology company as the engineer who keeps the aircraft connected: command-and-control links, telemetry, and video that must work at range, in interference, and without fail. You design RF architectures, prove link performance with data, and troubleshoot the hardest problems in the field. Every safe beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight the company operates depends on the links you engineer. You will also evaluate emerging link technologies and recommend upgrades that keep the company's connectivity capabilities ahead of operational demands and evolving regulatory requirements.

What you will achieve

Design command-and-control and telemetry link architectures that meet range, latency, and reliability requirements for each platform and mission profile.
Prove link performance through link budget analysis, bench testing, and structured range testing, delivering documented margins that customers and regulators accept.
Reduce link-loss incidents by characterizing real-world RF environments and building in redundancy, antenna diversity, and graceful degradation behaviors.
Integrate cellular, satellite, or mesh networking options to extend operational range and enable BVLOS operations where the business needs them.
Support regulatory filings related to spectrum use, working with engineering and legal teams to keep all operations compliant.

What you will bring

Must-haves

2-5 years of experience in RF or wireless communications engineering, ideally with UAV datalinks, telemetry systems, or similar mobile platforms.
Strong fundamentals: link budgets, antenna theory, modulation schemes, path loss, multipath, and interference analysis.
Hands-on experience with spectrum analyzers, software-defined radios, and RF test equipment for characterizing links and antennas.
Knowledge of common UAV frequency bands and their regulatory constraints, including 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, and licensed options.
Experience integrating radio modules and antennas into airframes, including placement decisions that balance performance with EMI isolation.
Ability to diagnose field RF issues systematically and propose fixes that hold up in production, not just in the lab.
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field.

Nice-to-haves

Experience with BVLOS link architectures such as cellular bonding or satellite backhaul.
Familiarity with FCC equipment authorization and spectrum licensing processes.
Background in mesh networking protocols for multi-vehicle operations.
Experience with anti-jam or interference-mitigation techniques for contested RF environments.