Senior RF Desense Engineer
Core
Lead architecture, analysis, mitigation, and validation of RF desense performance and electromagnetic shielding for autonomous aircraft and ground infrastructure.
Role type
Senior RF Desense Engineer
Builds
Autonomous logistics platforms (aircraft, docks, droids, Zipping Points) operating 4G LTE, 5G NR, GNSS, Wi-Fi, and other wireless systems.
Domain
Aerospace / RF Engineering / Electromagnetic Compatibility
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | dashboards & analysis | research | client delivery | infrastructure | physical/clinical work
Required skills
RF desense architecture, receiver sensitivity analysis, electromagnetic shielding design, interference mitigation, PCB layout optimization, EMI/EMC testing, system-level interference analysis, frequency planning, grounding strategies, near-field scanning, OTA testing, root-cause analysis, simulation, laboratory characterization, flight testing coordination, connector and cable shielding design, enclosure construction, gasket selection, aperture control, conductive coatings, RF system analysis, noise figure calculation, dynamic range analysis, interference budgeting, signal chain optimization, antenna placement optimization, design-for-manufacturing, production verification planning.
Technologies
4G LTE, 5G NR, GNSS, Wi-Fi, ADS-B, UAT, Bluetooth, ISM radios, V2V communications, spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, vector signal analyzers, signal generators, near-field probes, OTA chambers, EMI receivers, conducted RF measurement equipment.
Responsibilities
Own RF desense architecture, analysis, mitigation, validation, and production support across aircraft and ground infrastructure. Develop receiver desense budgets and performance requirements for next-generation wireless platforms. Identify and mitigate receiver sensitivity degradation caused by onboard transmitters and electronic subsystems. Analyze conducted and radiated interference mechanisms including broadband noise coupling, harmonics, spurious emissions, blocking, and intermodulation. Characterize RF coupling paths through PCBs, cables, antennas, enclosures, and wiring harnesses. Develop practical mitigation strategies including shielding, filtering, grounding, PCB layout optimization, clock management, power supply noise reduction, frequency planning, and antenna isolation improvements. Define RF design guidelines that minimize desense risks early in product development. Define Zipline's end-to-end electromagnetic shielding architecture spanning RF ICs, front-end modules, PCB assemblies, connectors, cable harnesses, LRUs, subsystem enclosures, and complete products. Develop shielding strategies that minimize self-generated and externally coupled RF interference while balancing size, weight, thermal performance, manufacturability, serviceability, reliability, and cost. Specify shielding requirements for RF circuits, mixed-signal electronics, switching power supplies, processors, high-speed digital interfaces, motors, and power electronics to prevent receiver degradation. Design connector and cable interconnect shielding architectures including shield termination, grounding topology, common-mode current control, cable routing, connector selection, and bonding methods to minimize conducted and radiated emissions. Develop subsystem-level shielding strategies defining enclosure construction, gasket selection, aperture control, seam treatment, venting approaches, conductive coatings, and grounding interfaces to achieve predictable electromagnetic isolation. Lead product-level shielding architecture to ensure emissions from all subsystems remain below receiver susceptibility thresholds while supporting simultaneous operation of multiple transmitters and sensitive receivers. Develop shielding methodologies that enable reliable integration of LTE, 5G, GNSS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ADS-B, UAT, ISM radios, telemetry, command-and-control, V2V communications, and future wireless technologies operating concurrently. Drive shielding design decisions through simulation, laboratory characterization, near-field scanning, EMI/EMC testing, environmental testing, flight testing, and structured root-cause analysis. Establish shielding design standards, verification methodologies, acceptance criteria, production inspection processes, and long-term design guidelines across Zipline's hardware platforms. Partner with mechanical engineering to design lightweight, manufacturable shielding solutions that maintain performance over the full environmental and operational life of the product. Define shielding strategies that protect high-precision GNSS receivers from onboard interference sources, enabling robust positioning performance under simultaneous multi-radio operation and dynamic flight conditions. Perform RF system analysis including receiver sensitivity, cascaded noise figure, blocking performance, dynamic range, interference budgeting, and system margin analysis. Collaborate closely with RF front-end and antenna engineers to optimize signal chains, antenna placement, installed performance, and isolation. Support PCB layout reviews, grounding strategies, shielding implementation, stack-up definition, and design-for-manufacturing activities. Develop laboratory validation methods using spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, vector signal analyzers, signal generators, near-field probes, OTA chambers, EMI receivers, and conducted RF measurements. Plan and execute RF desense characterization, conducted and over-the-air testing, environmental qualification, production verification, and flight testing. Investigate RF performance issues.
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC
