Senior RF Payload Integration & FPGA Engineer

Senior RF Payload Integration & FPGA Engineer (Contract)

Location: Austin, Texas

Company: SII USA

Engagement Type: Contract

About SII USA

SII USA delivers advanced engineering and technology solutions to customers operating in aerospace, defense, telecommunications, semiconductor, and emerging technology sectors. We partner with global engineering teams to integrate, validate, and deploy complex hardware and software systems in mission-critical environments.

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior RF Payload Integration & FPGA Engineer to support a critical RF payload integration program in Austin, Texas.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer who combines expertise in RF systems, FPGA development, and Software Defined Radio (SDR) technologies with strong system integration and troubleshooting capabilities.

Position Overview

The Senior RF Payload Integration & FPGA Engineer will serve as a key technical contributor responsible for bringing advanced RF payload systems into operation.

This role requires an engineer who can operate independently, solve complex technical challenges, and bridge the gap between hardware, firmware, software, and RF subsystems.

Key Responsibilities

• Integrate RF payload hardware
• Install, configure, and validate SDKs, firmware, and software environments associated with the payload systems.
• Program, configure, and optimize FPGA and SDR platforms.
• Support hardware bring-up, integration, debugging, and validation activities.
• Execute RF testing, calibration, and performance verification.
• Troubleshoot system-level issues involving RF hardware, FPGA logic, firmware, software, and interfaces.
• Develop and execute integration and verification test procedures.
• Collaborate with European and U.S.-based engineering teams to resolve technical issues and ensure successful system deployment.
• Review technical documentation and provide feedback on integration readiness.
• Support customer demonstrations, field deployments, and engineering reviews when required.
• Create technical reports, validation documentation, and integration procedures.
• Provide technical recommendations to leadership regarding system performance and improvements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in RF engineering, FPGA development, SDR systems, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of RF communications systems and RF payload architectures.
• Hands-on experience with FPGA development, integration, and troubleshooting.
• Experience with Software Defined Radio (SDR) platforms and architectures.
• Experience integrating complex hardware systems using SDKs, firmware, drivers, and software tools.
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills across hardware and software domains.
• Familiarity with RF laboratory equipment, including:
• Spectrum analyzers
• Oscilloscopes
• Signal generators
• Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs)
• Power measurement equipment
• Experience working in Linux-based development environments.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and international engineering environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Xilinx / AMD FPGA platforms and development tools.
• Experience with Intel (Altera) FPGA platforms.
• Proficiency in VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, C/C++, or Python.
• Experience with digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms and implementation.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, satellite communications, or advanced wireless systems.
• Experience performing RF payload integration and validation.
• Familiarity with high-speed digital interfaces and embedded systems.
• Prior experience collaborating with geographically distributed engineering teams.

Citizenship & Work Authorization Requirements

Due to the nature of the technology and potential export-control requirements, candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

U.S. Citizens are strongly preferred. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) may be considered depending on program requirements and eligibility to access controlled technical information.