C

CX2

Autonomous AI-powered RF threat detection platform

Lead RF Hardware Engineer

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
$190k - $225k/yr+ Stock options
Mid, Senior
Bachelor's, Master's
El Segundo, CA, USA
In PersonOnsite at the El Segundo, CA headquarters; remote work is not available.
Electrical EngineeringRF & Microwave Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • Have at least 4 years of total experience, including at least 2 years leading a cross-functional engineering team.
  • Create link budgets and align them to real-world test data.
  • Understand RF system parameters including gain, cascaded noise figure, figure of merit, linearity, and band flatness.
  • Be willing to debug complex electrical systems and methodically identify root causes of issues.
  • Have antenna and receiver design experience across analog, RF, and mixed-signal domains, including mixers, phase-locked loops and local oscillators, and gain, linearity, and noise trades; be able to turn simulations into reality.
  • Have experience with channelizers and wideband architectures, including filter banks, analog and digital down conversion, sample-rate planning, and clocking and synchronization.
  • Be willing to support critical test events that occasionally require extended hours or weekends.
  • Be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
  • Be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.
  • Have a BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
Responsibilities
  • Provide cradle-to-grave support for RF components, including requirements capture, schematic capture, layout, bring-up, measurement, production, testing, and RF system-level support.
  • Automate bench measurement setups for RF test data collection and post-processing to support informed, data-driven conclusions.
  • Design, integrate, and maintain complex RF systems.
  • Mentor and coach engineers.
Desired Qualifications
  • Have experience with software-defined radios, amplifiers, antennas, and frequency converters.
  • Have extensive experience with New Product Introduction, design for manufacturing, and design for test.
  • Have deep experience with electronic computer-aided design and computer-aided design software, a solid understanding of RF fundamentals, and advanced proficiency in Python and/or MATLAB.
  • Have experience putting hardware through formal qualification campaigns and implementing robust screening of units in a manufacturing environment.
  • Have experience with RF systems on unmanned aerial vehicles or in military applications.
  • Have experience with GNU Radio or similar digital signal processing frameworks.
  • Have experience scaling RF products and technologies.

About the company

CX2 develops AI-enabled hardware and software to manage the electromagnetic spectrum for military use. Its platform autonomously detects, classifies, and counters RF threats at the tactical edge, providing spectrum awareness and emitter tracking with GPS-denied capability and optional high-resolution imagery for threat confirmation. The system is modular and hardware-agnostic, designed to be deployed on drones or vehicles and updated quickly at lower cost compared with traditional EW systems. The goal is to enable rapid, targeted responses to RF threats to protect missions for the U.S. military and its allies, leveraging a leadership team with deep military, defense, and tech experience.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Series A

Total Funding

$46M

Headquarters

El Segundo, California

Founded

2024

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • More than 450 Vadris systems reached the U.S. Department of War by October 2026.
  • Picogrid integration in February 2026 expands CX2’s battlefield workflow and exercises exposure.
  • Vadris SDR now covers TBS Crossfire and DJI OcuSync, widening immediate counter-UAS relevance.

What critics are saying

  • CX2 still lacks a public program of record; DIU wins remain pilot-to-production risk through 2027.
  • The undisclosed second Wraith product creates execution opacity and product concentration around classified demand.
  • If faster-cheaper EW gets commoditized, CX2’s 450-unit fielding becomes a stepping stone, not dominance.

What makes CX2 unique

  • CX2’s October 2026 Vadris SDR adds software-defined FPV protocol coverage without hardware swaps.
  • April 2026 DIU Project G.I. dual-selection validates Wraith and a second undisclosed product.
  • El Segundo founders from Epirus, Raytheon, SpaceX, and a16z give CX2 unusual defense pedigree.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

32%

1 year growth

29%

2 year growth

50%
Associated Press
Oct 1st, 2026
CX2 launches Vadris SDR to detect multiple FPV drone protocols after fielding 450 units to US Department of War

CX2 has launched Vadris SDR, a software-defined radio version of its RF direction-finding payload for counter-drone missions. The system mounts on FPV drones to detect radio frequency activity and provide directional information to operators. Vadris SDR expands coverage beyond the original ExpressLRS protocol to include TBS Crossfire and DJI OcuSync. The software-defined architecture allows CX2 to add new protocols without hardware changes. More than 450 Vadris systems have been deployed to the US Department of War. The payload transforms standard FPV drones into RF-seeking platforms that can adapt to evolving drone control protocols through software updates rather than hardware replacement. CEO Porter Smith said the system enables sensors to detect multiple drone "languages" for counter-UAS operations.

IT Brief
May 4th, 2026
Launchpad Build AI opens El Segundo HQ and launches manufacturing model after $11M raise

Launchpad Build AI has opened its US headquarters in El Segundo and launched what it calls the world's first Manufacturing Language Model after raising $11 million in Series A funding. The company, formerly known as Launchpad Build, has rebranded to reflect its greater emphasis on artificial intelligence. Founded in 2020, the robotics firm operates from El Segundo and Edinburgh with deployments across the US and Europe. The new AI model works from photos, videos or CAD inputs to help factories develop automation systems, targeting high-mix, low-volume manufacturers. The company has appointed Ken Moynihan as chief technology officer and Yannis Georgas as head of Manufacturing Language Model. Series A investors included Lavrock Ventures, Squadra Ventures, Lockheed Martin Ventures and Scottish National Investment Bank.

EIN News
Jun 16th, 2025
CX2 Secures $31M Series A Funding

Defense tech startup CX2, co-founded by Nathan Mintz and Porter Smith, announced a $31M Series A funding round in May 2023. The round was led by Point72 Ventures, with participation from new investors like Upfront Ventures, Pax Ventures, and 201 Ventures, as well as existing investors Andreessen Horowitz and 8VC. CX2 focuses on electronic warfare systems, aligning with the evolving nature of warfare, as seen in the Ukraine conflict.

Axios
May 22nd, 2025
CX2 raises $31M for electronic warfare

Electronic warfare startup CX2 has raised $31 million in a Series A round led by Point72 Ventures, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, 8VC, and Pax Ventures. The funding will help CX2 hire more staff and accelerate the development of its electronic warfare tools. CEO Nathan Mintz highlighted the importance of mastering the electromagnetic spectrum, especially in light of the Ukraine conflict. CX2 works with the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division and builds software and hardware for electronic warfare.

Forbes
Jun 7th, 2024
A Secret ‘Electronic Warfare’ Startup Is Raising $15 Million From A16z And 8VC

CX2, which is still in stealth, is being led by serial entrepreneur Nathan Mintz, who co-founded the counter-drone unicorn Epirus.