--- title: 'RF Engineer I (R6108) at Shield AI' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/rf-engineer-i-r6108-shield-ai-seattle-ptt9cne70a9x' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-26' --- # RF Engineer I (R6108) at Shield AI - **Company:** Shield AI - **Location:** Seattle, WA - **Compensation:** $100k–$150k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-09-25 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-26 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/a9d061e9-4d28-4a30-8381-5f2dc28b4416 ## Job description Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. Job Description: Shield AI develops intelligent autonomous systems that protect service members and civilians. The X-BAT Engineering team is building a next-generation autonomous aircraft for demanding and contested environments. We are seeking a new-graduate RF Hardware Test Engineer to help verify RF modules, assemblies, and interfaces used in airborne and ground systems. Working alongside experienced engineers, you will build practical expertise in RF measurements, instrument automation, data analysis, troubleshooting, and qualification support. This role is centered on disciplined test execution and objective evidence rather than top-level RF system architecture. This is an Engineer I (L1) position intended for candidates completing an undergraduate or graduate degree or beginning their professional career. Coursework, research, internships, student teams, and personal projects are all relevant ways to demonstrate readiness. What you'll do: - Execute documented RF test plans and procedures with mentorship, record test configurations, and produce clear, traceable results. - Characterize RF modules and assemblies for S-parameters, gain and loss, output power, compression, harmonics and spurious emissions, isolation, rejection, noise figure, and receiver sensitivity as applicable. - Set up and operate vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters, oscilloscopes, noise-figure equipment, programmable power supplies, and related laboratory instruments. - Calibrate measurement setups and characterize cables, adapters, attenuators, fixtures, and other sources of measurement error. - Develop simple test fixtures, harnesses, interface adapters, and monitoring circuits; perform basic soldering and hardware rework when appropriate. - Automate instrument control, data collection, analysis, and plotting using Python, MATLAB, or comparable tools. - Compare measured performance with requirements, identify unexpected behavior, and summarize conclusions in engineering reports and reviews. - Troubleshoot test anomalies with senior engineers and learn to distinguish device behavior from setup, calibration, software, or environmental artifacts. - Support EMI/EMC pre-compliance and MIL-STD-461 qualification testing, environmental testing, hardware integration, and ground or flight test activities as needed. - Maintain safe, organized laboratory practices and follow equipment calibration, configuration-control, and data-management processes. - Collaborate with RF, electrical, mechanical, systems, software, manufacturing, and supplier teams. - Perform other duties as assigned. Required qualifications: - Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related technical field, completed or expected within 12 months of the anticipated start date. - Coursework, research, project, or internship experience in RF or microwave engineering, communications, electromagnetics, analog circuits, or electronic hardware testing. - Fundamental understanding of S-parameters, impedance, transmission lines, gain and loss, noise, power, spectral content, and frequency response. - Hands-on laboratory experience gained through coursework, research, an internship, a student organization, or a personal project. - Basic programming and data-analysis skills in Python, MATLAB, or a similar environment. - Ability to follow test procedures, document setups and results accurately, recognize uncertainty, and ask for guidance when needed. - Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work constructively in a multidisciplinary team. - Ability to work on-site in a laboratory and hardware-development environment. Preferred qualifications: - Experience using a vector network analyzer, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, power meter, oscilloscope, noise-figure analyzer, or programmable test equipment. - Experience automating laboratory instruments or analyzing measurement data using Python, MATLAB, SCPI, or a comparable approach. - Familiarity with RF simulation or design tools such as ADS, AWR, HFSS, or CST. - Experience with PCB bring-up, soldering, RF connectors and cables, test fixtures, harnesses, or basic hardware rework. - Exposure to EMI/EMC testing or MIL-STD-461 through coursework, research, an internship, or laboratory work. - Exposure to environmental, qualification, reliability, or acceptance testing of electronic hardware. - Experience on a university design team, research laboratory, internship, co-op, or project involving aerospace, defense, robotics, communications, or other high-reliability hardware. - Ability to obtain an S//SAR level security clearance, if required by the program. ## #LI-JW4 #LA Full-time regular employee offer package: Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity Temporary employee offer package: Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment) Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information. ### Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. ## About Shield AI ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Shield AI builds AI pilots and autonomous systems for military aircraft to protect service members and civilians. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series G, venture-backed) - **Headquarters**: San Diego, California, United States - **Founded**: 2015 - **Founders**: Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, Andrew Reiter ## Core Business - Primary industry/industries: Defense technology, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, aerospace - Target customers: U.S. Department of Defense, allied nations’ military forces (B2G / Government) - Mission or purpose statement: “Protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.” ## Products & Services - **Hivemind**: A combat‑tested, modular autonomy stack for aircraft – self‑driving technology for drones, jets, and helicopters. Includes path‑planning, mapping, state‑estimation, computer vision, and reinforcement learning. Type: Software (AI/autonomy). - **V‑BAT**: A vertical take‑off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for persistent ISR and strike missions. Type: Hardware (drone). - **X‑BAT**: An advanced unmanned aircraft system with extended endurance and payload capacity, built for multi‑domain operations. Type: Hardware (drone). - **Hivemind Vision Systems**: Computer‑vision and sensor‑fusion capabilities integrated into Hivemind for GPS‑denied environments. Type: Software + sensors. - **Hivemind Enterprise**: A deployable version of Hivemind for third‑party platforms and commercial applications. Type: Software. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (private company). Total funding raised: $3.6B (as of Series G in March 2026). - **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue ~$21.7M (estimated, private) | Total Funding $3.6B (including $2B Series G led by JP Morgan Chase and Advent International, March 2026). - **Notable Investors/Partners**: JP Morgan Chase, Advent International, Blackstone, Riot Ventures, SnowPoint Ventures, Disruptive (55+ investors total). Strategic partners include U.S. DoD and allied defense forces. - **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 68.3% YoY to 1,283 employees; 338 active job postings (+57.2% YoY); operates in 5 countries (U.S., Australia, UAE, Norway, Ukraine); recent acquisitions of Sentient Vision Systems (2024), Heron Systems, MARTIN UAV. ## Competitive Advantages - **Combat‑proven autonomy**: Hivemind has been tested in live military operations, providing a first‑mover advantage in contested, GPS‑denied environments. - **Full‑stack integration**: Combines software (AI pilot), hardware (V‑BAT, X‑BAT), and sensor systems, creating a tightly integrated product ecosystem. - **Cross‑functional engineering culture**: Engineers work across AI, robotics, aerospace, and defense – not siloed – enabling rapid iteration and field deployment. - **Top talent pipeline**: Employees drawn from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Amazon, Anduril, and other leading defense/tech firms. ## Strategic Focus - **Scale AI pilots across all domains**: Extend Hivemind from aircraft to ships, satellites, and ground vehicles (“every military asset”). - **International expansion**: Growing presence in Australia, Europe, and Middle East via mission autonomy centers and partnerships. - **Deepen autonomy stack**: Continued investment in reinforcement learning, simulation, and computer vision to maintain leadership in contested‑environment autonomy. ## Why Work Here - **Mission‑driven work**: Directly contribute to protecting service members and civilians with cutting‑edge AI and robotics. - **Cross‑functional teams**: Engineers collaborate across disciplines (AI, hardware, software, systems) on real‑world defense challenges. - **Benefits**: Excellent medical coverage, mental health EAP, paid parental leave, pet insurance, flexible work hours, gym discounts (SD) / on‑site gym (DC), free parking, competitive compensation, 401k with match, stock benefits. - **Work policy**: Flexible work hours; some offices (e.g., San Diego HQ, Arlington, DC) have on‑site facilities. Remote/hybrid options available depending on role. - **Growth trajectory**: Rapidly scaling (68% headcount growth) with hundreds of open roles across engineering, operations, and program management. ## Sources 1. [shield.ai/about](https://shield.ai/about/) 2. [shield.ai/careers](https://shield.ai/careers/) 3. [LinkedIn – Shield AI](https://www.linkedin.com/company/shield-ai) 4. [CBInsights – Shield AI](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/shield-ai) 5. [Lever – Shield AI Jobs](https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai) ## Other roles at Shield AI - [Deputy Chief Engineer, X-BAT](https://feeny.ai/job/deputy-chief-engineer-x-bat-shield-ai-seattle-np4z3j7435km) — Seattle, WA - [Associate Facilities Coordinator (R6110)](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-facilities-coordinator-r6110-shield-ai-washington-r39vpnk0p2n4) — Washington, DC - [Staff Data & Analytics Engineer, Domain Enablement (R6112)](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-data-analytics-engineer-domain-enablement-r6112-shield-ai-dallas-nntsk7w066jv) — Dallas, TX - [Staff Electrical Engineer, Hardware Test](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-electrical-engineer-hardware-test-shield-ai-seattle-03pr9g3y2m10) — Seattle, WA - [Lead Mechanical Engineer, Hardware Test (X-BAT)](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-mechanical-engineer-hardware-test-x-bat-shield-ai-seattle-h3bkxw4zfekx) — Seattle, WA - [Sr. Supervisor, Facilities Operations, U.S. East (R6094)](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-supervisor-facilities-operations-u-s-east-r6094-shield-ai-washington-h7x9sb59h5zf) — Washington, DC - [Sr. Supervisor, Facilities Operations, U.S. Central (R6095)](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-supervisor-facilities-operations-u-s-central-r6095-shield-ai-dallas-ggwrsv73rtph) — Dallas, TX - [Lead, Enterprise Strategy and Operations (R6096)](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-enterprise-strategy-and-operations-r6096-shield-ai-san-diego-14cmpepkyf3p) — San Diego, CA - [Senior Lead, Enterprise Strategy and Operations (R6097)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-lead-enterprise-strategy-and-operations-r6097-shield-ai-san-diego-hnh362hehp7b) — San Diego, CA - [Growth Marketing Manager, Web Experience (R6101)](https://feeny.ai/job/growth-marketing-manager-web-experience-r6101-shield-ai-united-states-bfamwp3gfyqd) — United States