Lead, RF Engineer (Palm Bay, FL)
About the job
L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success.
Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do. L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech.
With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security. ## Job Schedule:9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days – totaling 80 hours worked – and have every other Friday off ## Job Description L3Harris is seeking a highly driven RF Hardware Design Engineer to support the design and development of advanced RF solutions for space‑to‑ground communication systems.
In this role, you will contribute to mission‑critical hardware used in resilient, high‑reliability space platforms that enable secure connectivity for our customers.
You will be part of a collaborative engineering environment focused on innovation, rapid development, and precision execution. ## Essential Functions - Design, simulate, and implement RF circuits and subsystems including LNAs, PAs, filters, mixers, synthesizers, and transceiver modules for space‑to‑ground communication links. - Develop and refine system‑level RF architectures that meet demanding environmental, performance, and reliability requirements for space applications. - Lead schematic design, RF component selection, and PCB layout review with a focus on radiation tolerance, thermal performance, and high‑frequency signal integrity. - Perform hardware bring‑up, tuning, and RF characterization using advanced lab equipment (VNA, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters, etc.) for first article deployment - Support environmental, thermal, and radiation‑effects considerations as part of design verification for space systems. - Work closely with systems engineering, digital hardware, firmware, antenna engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless integration and efficient production. - Troubleshoot complex RF issues, execute root‑cause analysis, and propose design improvements to enhance reliability and mission readiness. - Create detailed technical documentation including requirements, design reports, test procedures, and verification artifacts consistent with L3Harris engineering standards. - Ability to obtain a US Security Clearance. ## Qualifications - Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 9 years of prior relevant experience.
Graduate Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience.
In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience. ## Preferred Additional Skills - Experience designing for a space environment. - Hold a current security Clearance or the ability to obtain a security clearance - Knowledge of space communication standards, high‑frequency payload architectures, or ground‑segment RF equipment. - Familiarity with environmental and qualification standards (MIL‑STD, NASA, ESA, or similar) - Proficiency with RF simulation tools such as ADS, AWR Microwave Office, HFSS, or equivalent. - Strong understanding of RF fundamentals including impedance matching, linearity, gain, noise figure, phase noise, and EMI/EMC. - Experience with PCB design tools (Altium, Cadence Allegro, or similar). - Experience in high‑volume or mission‑critical manufacturing environments - Experience leading teams and project designs - Trade study execution and ownership - Problem-solving skills with ability to proactively identify alternate solutions to overcome difficult technical challenges. - Detail-oriented and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. - Provide mentorship to early career engineers #Li-DK2 L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination.
All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws.
L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law. Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens.
In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions. L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer.
Please click here for the E-Verify Poster in English or Spanish . For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here for English or Spanish .
From L3Harris's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Contract Professionals Inc (CPI)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense staffing firm in Waterford, Michigan, placing engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanics, welders and CNC machinists.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
Moseley Technical ServicesEngineering and technical staffing agency
Engineering and technical staffing firm in Huntsville, Alabama, placing engineers and A&P, sheet metal, CNC and quality technicians.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New RF, communications and payload jobs in space in Florida, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About L3Harris
Satellites, space sensors and rocket engines, inside a defense and aerospace prime.
Pay on its listings: 41.4% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on L3Harris's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More open jobs at L3Harris
- Associate Manager, Integration and Test Engineering 1
- Scientist, Systems Engineering (Chief Systems Engineer): Sign-on bonus ($50k max) 1
- Specialist, Electrical Engineering
- Principal, Program Management
- Specialist, Software Engineer (Cloud Developer)
- Sr Specialist, Structural Mechanical Engineer (Space Optical Payloads)
More RF, communications and payload jobs in space
- Staff Digital Signal Processing Engineer$145,000–$185,000/yr
- Intermediate Applied Mathematician--Communications, Navigation, and Timing Engineering$103,600–$129,500/yr
- Embedded Software Developer, Network/Payload Intern (Winter 2027)$29.00/hr
- RF Design Engineer III$100,000–$130,000/yr
- RF Test Engineer
- Principal Electro-Optics Engineer – Optical Inter-Satellite Link$173,466–$242,851/yr
An RF or communications engineer?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
L3Harris openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from L3Harris's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.