
Principal RF Design Engineer 6
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
Folsom, CAFull-time$140–180K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today
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Job overview
Kratos Microwave is seeking a Principal RF Design Engineer 6 to design and develop RF and microwave solid-state power amplifiers, from system-level concepts through device and component selection. The role includes developing and prototyping amplifiers across a broad frequency range for high-reliability aerospace and defense applications. The engineer works independently and with cross-functional teams, supporting product development, production testing, and customer requirements at the Folsom facility.
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Full job description
Job Descriptions:
Kratos Microwave, Inc., a Kratos' company, is looking for a Principal RF Design Engineer 6 to work onsite at their Folsom, CA facility.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms, and systems for United States National Security related customers, allies, and commercial enterprises.
At Kratos, we encourage an entrepreneurial spirit balanced with discipline. We work hard, and take care of our customers, employees and families. Recognized as thought leaders in our industry, we are motivated by creating and delivering innovative solutions to our nation and global customers. We proactively build trusted relationships with our peers, partners and customers, and take ownership for our actions—always striving to do the right thing.
Kratos offers medical, dental, vision, life, short and long term disability insurance, 401(k) savings plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), paid time off, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, and more.
GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:RF & Microwave Solid State Power Amplifier Design Engineer. You will be responsible for the design and development of RF & Microwave solid state power amplifiers (SSPAs), from conceptual system level design to device and component selection. You will develop and prototype SSPAs at frequencies from 500 MHz to 100 GHz using state-of-the-art device technologies including GaN, GaAs, InP, and SiGe. You will design products that are intended to operate in harsh environments for high reliability applications in the aerospace & defense market including land-based, ship-board, airborne, and space platforms.Expected to work both independently and as a member of a multi-functional team.This position requires the ability to obtain security clearance.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Complete knowledge and full understanding of area of specialization, principles and practices within a professional discipline.• Assesses unusual circumstances and uses sophisticated analytical and problem-solving techniques to identify cause.• Resolves and assesses a wide range of issues in creative ways and suggests variations in approach.• This job is the fully qualified, experienced professional, journey-level position.• Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of information requires evaluation of identifiable factors.• Devises solutions based on limited information and precedent and adapts existing approaches to resolve issues.• Uses evaluation, judgment, and interpretation to select right course of action.• Work is done independently and is reviewed at critical points.• Enhances relationships and networks with senior internal/external partners who are not familiar with the subject matter often requiring persuasion.• Adapts style to differing audiences and often advises others on difficult matters.• System level block diagram development, cascade analysis, and physical design and mechanical / architectural layout including designing to meet customer reliability and derating requirements.• Design RF & microwave amplifier assemblies, analog control circuits, power supplies and power conditioning circuitry, and some basic digital circuitry for command-&-control and fault sensing & reporting.• Design RF matching networks using harmonic balance non-linear simulation, large signal models, and load-pull contours.• Design for manufacturability, automated assembly & test (DFMAT)• Responsible for design and layout of both MIC hybrid (chip-&-wire) modules and SMT PCBA assemblies using Cadence’s Microwave Office, AutoCAD, and Altium, ORCAD, or Allegro.• Work with production personnel in Assembly & Test to support the build, tuning & alignment, and test of SSPA products.• Responsible for the on-time development and delivery of new products to customer schedules within budget, adhering to the Product Development Process stage gate process.• Contribute to Bid & Proposal activities as assigned to address new customer requirements.• Experience in RF and Microwave circuit design including simulation and layout with relevant RF & mechanical CAD software (e.g. Microwave Office, VSS, CST, Altium, AutoCAD, etc.).• Strong practical bench skills with RF test equipment in a cleanroom lab environment.• Experience with RF test equipment including Signal Generators, Network Analyzers, VNAs / PNAs, Spectrum Analyzers, Oscilloscopes, etc.• Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility:This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
Required Experience:
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:• Possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the assigned duties, including computer skills.• Maintain sensitive and confidential information as required by company and government requirements.• Communicate and interact effectively with peers, supervisors, and public, including maintaining respect for others, and following company policies.• Have a willingness and ability to learn and utilize company technology for company required purposes, including, for example training, reviewing, and signing policies and procedures, benefits enrollment, and changes, and more.• Ability to read, understand, and follow instructions.• Ability to work in a fast paced environment.• Ability to maintain knowledge, skills, and abilities as it pertains to your job.• Ability to obtain security clearance
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:• Requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 4 years’ experience.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:• This position is a full-time on-site position based out of either our San Jose (CA) or Folsom (CA) facilities. The work environment will be split roughly 50/50 between a cubicle office environment with computer aided design work and a cleanroom lab environment working on electronics hardware on the bench inside the cleanroom.
Travel Requirements: Yes, infrequent travel may be required to visit customers and suppliers. Estimate 10%.
#LI-BI1KratosSalary Range: $140,000.00 - $180,000.00
Keyword: RF Design Engineer
Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Disability Accessibility Accommodation
If you require an accommodation to navigate or apply to our careers site, please send your request to [email protected] or call 858-964-2916. Any inquires not related to requesting an accommodation will be discarded.
Pay Transparency
The company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.
Job Applicant Privacy Notice
For applicants in the EU and California residents, please review our privacy notice.
From: Kratos Defense
How this job compares
Set against the 2,961 open Hardware Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 29, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$140–180K/yr
- California median$146–214K/yr909 salary ranges
- US median$131–201K/yr2,162 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $160K, is 10% below the California median midpoint ($178K) — in the middle half of Hardware Engineer salary ranges in California.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 1,205 open Hardware Engineer jobs in California and 2,961 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 4 years of experience; Hardware Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (2,485 postings).
- Education
- 1,858 of the 2,961 open Hardware Engineer jobs (63%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 29, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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