Systems Engineer, Hardware Programs - Take Advanced RF Hardware from Prototype to Production

Tampa, FL | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join an early-stage defense technology company developing advanced RF sensing and wireless systems for demanding operational environments. The team designs hardware and software from the ground up and is now moving a new wideband sensing platform from a working prototype toward a production-intent system. You will own that transition. This is a hands-on technical leadership role for an engineer who understands complex electronic hardware but also knows how to drive schedules, suppliers, cost, requirements, and execution. You will build the 90-day hardware plan, identify risks early, make practical scope decisions, and establish many of the processes that will support future production.

About Us

We are a venture-backed defense technology startup founded by former military operators who experienced firsthand the limitations of existing electronic warfare and sensing systems. The team develops its own electronics, RF hardware, firmware, and software, with systems already being evaluated and deployed by government and defense customers. As the company moves from prototype builds toward repeatable production, we are building the engineering, supplier, and manufacturing foundation needed to scale.

Job Duties

• Own the program taking a complex RF sensing system from functional prototype to production-intent hardware
• Build and manage an aggressive hardware development schedule with weekly milestones, decision gates, dependencies, and measurable deliverables
• Maintain a live technical and program risk register and drive mitigation before issues affect the critical path
• Translate customer and system requirements into verification plans, test results, and clear requirements-to-test traceability
• Review system architectures, block diagrams, design decisions, and integration plans closely enough to challenge technical assumptions and make informed tradeoffs
• Drive scope decisions when required to protect schedule, cost, or system performance
• Own the bill of materials, including component availability, lead times, alternates, lifecycle risk, and second sourcing
• Manage long-lead components including RFSoCs, high-speed data converters, RF components, processors, and other constrained electronics
• Lead RFQs, vendor evaluation, and supplier selection for PCB fabrication, PCB assembly, enclosures, machining, and other external manufacturing
• Manage contract manufacturers and suppliers through prototype, engineering, and pilot builds
• Establish clear separation between non-recurring engineering costs and recurring per-unit production costs
• Drive cost-down efforts as designs mature and expected production volume increases
• Lead DFM and DFT reviews with engineering and manufacturing partners
• Build configuration management, engineering change, BOM control, and hardware release processes where processes do not yet exist
• Coordinate integration of existing internally developed RF and electronic subsystems
• Support regulatory and compliance work including FCC equipment authorization, export classification, and cybersecurity requirements
• Serve as a technical point of contact for pilot customers, including site surveys, deployment planning, integration, and installation
• Document deferred scope and create a clear follow-on roadmap for features or capabilities removed from the initial production build

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience developing complex electronic hardware
• 3+ years leading hardware programs through new product introduction, pilot production, or equivalent product maturation
• Engineering background in electrical engineering, systems engineering, RF engineering, or a closely related discipline
• Previous hands-on experience designing, integrating, troubleshooting, or testing hardware before moving into technical leadership
• Experience delivering at least one hardware product from concept or early prototype through customer testing on an accelerated development schedule
• Strong understanding of complex electronic systems and the ability to work effectively across RF, electrical, mechanical, firmware, and software teams
• Direct experience managing contract manufacturers, PCB fabrication and assembly vendors, and mechanical suppliers
• Experience managing electronic component sourcing and supply-chain risk through shortages or long lead times
• Strong working knowledge of BOM management, configuration control, engineering change processes, and hardware release practices
• Ability to distinguish development cost, tooling, and other one-time engineering expenses from recurring production cost
• Experience driving DFM and DFT activities as hardware transitions toward production
• Ability to make practical engineering tradeoffs and reduce scope without losing sight of the core customer requirement
• Comfortable operating in an early-stage environment where processes need to be created rather than followed

Preferred Experience

• Experience with software-defined radios, electronic warfare, SIGINT, RF sensing, wireless communications, or RF test and measurement systems
• Familiarity with RFSoCs, high-speed ADCs, RF front ends, or similarly complex mixed-signal electronics
• Experience scaling hardware from internal assembly into external contract manufacturing
• Experience establishing supplier qualification, cost tracking, or NPI processes at an early-stage hardware company
• Familiarity with FCC equipment authorization and related RF regulatory requirements
• Experience with EAR export classification
• Familiarity with CMMC, NIST SP 800-171, or controlled government environments
• Experience supporting pilot deployments with defense, public-sector, corrections, critical infrastructure, or institutional customers
• Military experience in electronic warfare, signals, cyber, or Special Operations environments
• Experience working with government security requirements or facility-clearance processes
• PMP, INCOSE certification, or equivalent systems or program management training

Why Join Us

• Own a critical hardware program from prototype through customer deployment
• Build the processes for supplier management, cost control, NPI, and hardware execution rather than inheriting an established playbook
• Work directly with engineers designing custom RF, electronics, firmware, and sensing technology
• Have meaningful authority over schedule, scope, vendors, cost, and technical execution
• Join a small team where hardware decisions move quickly and individual engineers have significant influence
• Work directly with government and defense users deploying systems into real operational environments
• Help establish the production foundation as the company transitions from prototype development toward larger-scale manufacturing
• Join at an early stage with significant opportunity for long-term ownership, responsibility, and growth

Compensation Details

$100,000 - $130,000