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Intellisense Systems

Advanced sensing, display, and data analytics

Principal Radio Frequency Test Engineer

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/24/2026
$137k - $175k
Expert
Bachelor's
Torrance, CA, USA
In PersonOnsite in Torrance, California.
Electrical EngineeringRF & Microwave Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline is required.
  • Typically, 10 or more years of relevant RF, microwave, or system test engineering experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required.
  • Extensive hands-on experience testing RF and microwave hardware and systems is required.
  • Strong understanding of RF fundamentals, including S-parameters, impedance matching, gain, noise figure, compression, intermodulation, harmonics, phase noise, sensitivity, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio, is required.
  • Strong experience using RF test equipment, including vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, RF/microwave signal generators, power meters, oscilloscopes, and noise figure analyzers, is required.
  • Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex RF systems down to the assembly, board, or component level is required.
  • Experience developing test plans, procedures, verification methods, and formal test reports is required.
  • Experience with automated test development using Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, C/C++, or similar tools is required.
  • Experience interfacing laboratory instrumentation using GPIB, Ethernet/LAN, USB, or serial interfaces is required.
  • Strong understanding of calibration, measurement accuracy, uncertainty, repeatability, and test equipment limitations is required.
  • Experience supporting engineering development and production test environments is required.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical issues to engineering teams, program leadership, customers, and suppliers, are required.
  • Demonstrated technical leadership and the ability to independently lead complex engineering test activities are required.
Responsibilities
  • Lead RF and microwave test activities for development, integration, qualification, verification, and production programs.
  • Develop test plans, procedures, test methods, and acceptance criteria based on system and subsystem requirements.
  • Design, develop, and validate RF test setups for modules, assemblies, and integrated systems.
  • Perform testing and characterization of RF systems across gain, noise figure, frequency response, output power, linearity, harmonics, spurious emissions, sensitivity, phase, and signal integrity.
  • Operate and configure RF laboratory equipment, including vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, power meters, noise-figure analyzers, and related instrumentation.
  • Lead troubleshooting and root-cause investigation of complex RF hardware, system, and test failures.
  • Analyze test data, identify trends and anomalies, and provide technical conclusions and corrective-action recommendations.
  • Develop and improve automated RF test systems and test software to increase repeatability, efficiency, coverage, and production throughput.
  • Establish test requirements, test architecture, instrumentation needs, fixtures, calibration requirements, and measurement uncertainty expectations.
  • Support environmental and qualification testing, including temperature, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, and other applicable qualification activities.
  • Support design reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and other customer or internal technical reviews.
  • Participate in requirements verification and traceability to ensure test coverage satisfies contractual and system requirements.
  • Work with design engineering to improve design-for-testability and identify potential performance or manufacturing issues early in development.
  • Support manufacturing and production teams with test station development, troubleshooting, yield improvement, failure analysis, and transition from engineering to production.
  • Develop and maintain test documentation, test reports, verification evidence, and configuration-controlled test artifacts.
  • Interface with customers, suppliers, and external test facilities as the RF test technical lead when required.
  • Mentor junior and senior engineers and provide technical guidance on RF measurement techniques, troubleshooting, and test methodology.
  • Drive continuous improvement of RF test processes, tools, automation, and engineering best practices.
  • Support proposal activities by developing test approaches, labor estimates, schedules, equipment requirements, technical content, and risk assessments.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with aerospace, defense, radar, electronic warfare, communications, SIGINT, RF sensing, or mission-system applications.
  • Experience testing receivers, transmitters, transceivers, antennas, amplifiers, filters, frequency converters, or other RF subsystems.
  • Experience with environmental qualification testing and military/aerospace standards.
  • Experience with EMI/EMC testing and standards such as MIL-STD-461.
  • Familiarity with MIL-STD-810 environmental testing.
  • Experience working on ruggedized, low-SWaP-C embedded RF systems.
  • Experience with requirements management, verification matrices, and configuration-controlled development environments.
  • Experience supporting qualification, First Article Testing, Acceptance Test Procedures, and production readiness.
  • Experience developing automated production test stations and improving manufacturing test yield.

About the company

Intellisense Systems provides sensing and display solutions that move data from capture to visualization, pairing hardware with software to turn raw data into actionable information for decision making and automation. Its offerings include ready-made products plus custom development, with services from R&D and requirements analysis to prototyping, production, testing, field support, and training. The company differentiates itself by delivering end-to-end capabilities—from design to manufacturing and support—for both government and commercial customers, backed by significant in-house fabrication and QA. Its goal is to deliver reliable, integrated sensing and visualization systems that help customers acquire data, derive insights, and automate processes.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$10.4M

Headquarters

Torrance, California

Founded

2018

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 7, 2026 Air Force awarded $8.22 million for nuclear flash-blindness goggles.
  • September 28, 2026 DLA awarded $9.2 million for B-2 fire-control systems.
  • March 26, 2026 Beacon partnership moved IWOS-M into active U.S. Navy fleet deployment.

What critics are saying

  • Air Force and DLA contracts dominate revenue, exposing Intellisense to single-customer procurement swings.
  • The August 7, 2026 goggles award carries known congressional interest and mid-2027 delivery pressure.
  • Sole-source SBIR Phase III dependence invites recompetes and protests if incumbency weakens.

What makes Intellisense Systems unique

  • Intellisense's SBIR Phase III pipeline locks Air Force programs into sole-source follow-on buys.
  • Its 80,000-square-foot Torrance campus builds weather, avionics, and protection systems in-house.
  • MOSA-compliant displays and sensor suites fit legacy aircraft without redesigning entire avionics stacks.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Life Insurance
  • Workers Compensation Insurance

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

-4%

1 year growth

-5%

2 year growth

-5%
SBIR.gov
Sep 13th, 2026
Awards | SBIR

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PR Newswire
Aug 7th, 2026
US Air Force awards $8.22M for nuclear flash blindness protection goggles

Intellisense Systems has been awarded an $8.22 million contract by the US Air Force to develop next-generation nuclear flash blindness protection goggles for aircrews. The contract covers engineering, manufacturing development, and low-rate initial production. The Torrance, California-based company will develop goggles to replace the current EEU-2A/P system, providing comprehensive protection against flash blindness and retinal burn in nuclear environments. Work is expected to be completed by mid-2027. The award results from a sole source SBIR Phase III acquisition, with $564,497 in research and development funds obligated at the time of award. Intellisense Systems specialises in advanced sensing and display solutions, operating an 80,000-square-foot facility in Torrance.

PR Newswire
Jul 13th, 2026
Intellisense Systems appoints Kevin Bell as VP of business development and sales

Intellisense Systems, a provider of electronic systems and sensors for defence and aerospace applications, has appointed Kevin Bell as vice president of business development and sales. Bell brings over 20 years of defence industry experience to the Torrance, California-based company. He previously held business development roles at BAE Systems and Raytheon, where he worked on introducing advanced radio-frequency radar and electromagnetic systems to the global market. Before entering the defence industry, Bell served as a commissioned officer in the US Navy. He holds degrees from the University of Southern California and Fordham University. Intellisense Systems specialises in advanced sensing, processing, and display solutions.

PR Newswire
Aug 19th, 2024
Intellisense Systems Develops Innovative Power Management System For Future Airborne Platforms

Intellisense has devised an innovative, smart power management system with open-architecture standards to support the next-generation Army rotorcraft.TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellisense Systems, Inc., a leading provider of military electronics and avionics systems, has been awarded a contract from Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) to develop advanced power management systems for future airborne platforms. This solution integrates power management and distribution functions (including load shedding and prognostic data collection) to maximize efficient source-load matching for all phases of a mission. This controlled and coordinated power architecture provides significant fuel savings, reduced component stresses, and improved power quality over uncoordinated black-box power on legacy systems. SMART Network Switch. Smart power distribution

PR Newswire
Jul 1st, 2024
Intellisense Systems Announces Ceo Transition

Frank Willis transitions to Executive Director and Dr. Robert Waldo is appointed as President and CEOTORRANCE, Calif., July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellisense Systems, Inc., a leading provider of electronic systems and sensors, announces that Frank T. Willis, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will retire after a 6-year tenure as CEO and 8 years as a Vice President at Physical Optics Corporation (POC) prior to the spin-off of Intellisense. Willis will transition to serve as Executive Director and special consultant to the company and Board of Directors. The Intellisense Systems Board of Directors has been engaged in continuous CEO succession planning since 2022, and the Board has appointed Dr. Robert Waldo as President and CEO, effective today