Senior RF Systems Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent the last eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for real-world operations.

Our V2 aircraft carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles, while our next-generation V3 carries 100 lbs over 1,000+ miles with 20+ hours of endurance. Both use a hybrid-electric architecture that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane, enabling long-range autonomous delivery without traditional runway infrastructure.

Today, Skyways aircraft operate across three continents in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight and in support of U.S. military operations. We are transitioning from prototype development to full-rate production and scaling toward large autonomous cargo fleets.

Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M AFWERX STRATFI award from the U.S. Air Force, Skyways is creating a new form of transportation to advance our civilization from Austin, Texas.

The Opportunity

This role owns critical RF and communications systems across autonomous aircraft platforms.

You will develop and integrate communication, telemetry, navigation, and RF systems that enable reliable aircraft operations in demanding real-world environments. Your work will directly impact aircraft connectivity, operational reliability, BVLOS capability, and system robustness across deployed fleets.

You will work across aircraft, ground systems, payloads, and infrastructure to solve RF challenges involving interference, antenna integration, signal integrity, EMI/EMC, and long-range communications performance.

The ideal candidate has experience building and debugging RF systems on aerospace, robotics, defense, or autonomous platforms and is comfortable operating across both system architecture and hands-on integration work.

What You'll Do:

• Design, integrate, and validate RF and wireless communication systems for autonomous aircraft

• Support telemetry, command-and-control, payload, navigation, and networking systems

• Debug RF performance issues involving interference, signal quality, antenna performance, and system integration

• Support EMI/EMC analysis, mitigation, and validation across aircraft systems

• Collaborate with avionics, electrical, autonomy, and flight operations teams during integration and testing

• Support ground and flight testing activities to validate RF system performance in operational environments

• Develop test procedures, integration workflows, and troubleshooting processes for RF systems

• Improve system reliability, robustness, and scalability across deployed aircraft platforms

What You'll Bring:

• 5+ years designing, integrating, or troubleshooting RF and communications systems, including end-to-end ownership of system-level problems

• Strong understanding of RF fundamentals including antennas, signal propagation, interference, and EMI/EMC concepts

• Experience working with embedded systems, avionics, networking, or communications hardware

• Hands-on experience debugging integrated hardware systems in lab or field environments

• Familiarity with RF test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, VNAs, oscilloscopes, or SDR platforms

• Ability to work across hardware, software, and operational teams to solve complex system issues

• Strong communication and problem-solving skills

Bonus Points:

• Experience with aerospace, UAV, robotics, or defense systems

• Experience with BVLOS communications or long-range telemetry systems

• Familiarity with cellular, mesh, SATCOM, GNSS, or software-defined radio systems

• Experience with EMI/EMC compliance testing and mitigation

• Amateur radio license or practical RF hobbyist experience

• Experience supporting flight test or deployed field systems

Want to join our mission? Apply to learn more!

Due to U.S. government contract requirements, this role is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or candidates from specific countries authorized under applicable export control regulations.

Skyways is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other factor protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.