EW Hardware Engineer
CX2
Other Engineering
El Segundo, CA, USA
Posted on Oct 17, 2025
CX2 is a next-generation defense technology company founded to deliver spectrum dominance for the United States and our allies. CX2’s AI-enabled hardware and software platforms detect, disrupt and defend the electromagnetic spectrum across land, air, sea and space domains.
CX2 is seeking a highly skilled Electronic Warfare Hardware Engineer to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in designing, testing and building Electronic Support (ES), Electronic Attack (EA) and/or Anti-jam features for communications, signal detection, RADAR and associated Electronic Warfare systems.
This role requires an onsite presence in our El Segundo, CA HQ; a remote work environment is not considered for this opportunity.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, validate & deliver EW payloads end-to-end: RF front-ends and wideband receivers for Electronic Support Measures/Electronics
- Intelligence/Communications Intelligence systems; architect high-dynamic-range chains (LNA → filters → mixers → clocks/LOs → ADC/DAC).
- Model, optimize, and characterize ultra-wideband apertures for analog and/or digital DF/beamforming; perform calibration at component and system level
- Jamming & Assoc. Techniques: Develop Electronics Attack/Electronic Countermeasures modes (smart jamming, deceptive techniques), frequency agility, notch/adaptive filters, and cognitive EW that learns in-the-loop.
- Signal processing: Design characterize and deliver channelizers, wideband detection/classification, LPI/LPD intercept, and MIMO/digital-array algorithms in MATLAB/Python/C++ and accelerate on FPGA/RFSoC/GPU.
- Test & verification: Operate anechoic chamber / antenna range campaigns — far-field, over-the-air tests, VNA/S-parameters, pattern measurements, calibration, & EMI/EMC.
- Own requirements, ICDs, and verification from concept to flight; root-cause tricky RF issues (isolation/coupling, LO leakage, clocking/jitter, thermal) quickly.
- Stay current: Track and insert advances in MMIC/ RF SoC devices and associated technologies, adaptive beamforming, RF machine learning, and resilient PNT for GPS-denied ops.
Qualifications
- BS/MS in EE, CE, or related field (PhD a plus), and at least 5 years’ experience with EW subsystems and payloads.
- Receiver design across analog/RF/mixed-signal domains: filters (lumped/microstrip/cavity), mixers, PLLs/LOs, gain/linearity/noise trades; schematic/PCB design with Altium (or similar).
- Hands-on antenna/RF system design and validation with HFSS and VNA/anechoic chamber workflows; ability to turn simulations into flight-worthy, Tier 1 deliverable hardware.
- Channelizers & wideband architectures: filter banks, analog/digital downconversion, sample-rate planning, clocking/synchronization across nodes.
- RF filter design & analysis (lumped/distributed) and practical EMC/EMI mitigation.
- RF test & antenna range execution: spectrum analyzers, sig gens, VNAs, phased-array controllers, and over-the-air characterization.
- Willingness to support critical test events that occasionally require extended hours/weekends.
- To Conform to US Government Regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. Citizen or National or (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder). Learn more about the ITAR here.
ITAR Regulations:
Bonus Points
- EA/ECM technique design (deception, Digital RF Memory, coherent/non-coherent techniques).
- Comms system design (LPI/LPD, Waveform-of-Interest exploitation)
- RF machine learning for emitter ID, modulation/classification, anomaly detection, PDW creation
- Flight test & telemetry experience; mission data analysis.
- Autonomy-adjacent systems (UAS swarming, collaborative EW).
- Tools Experience: ADS/AWR/SystemVue, MATLAB/Simulink, Python (NumPy/SciPy), GNU Radio/SDR (USRP/RFSoC), VITA-49; HDL/firmware experience also helpful (Vivado/Quartus/Libero).
- Clearance: Active Secret or ability to obtain and maintain; TS/SCI eligibility preferred. ITAR/EAR-controlled work.
- Field work: supporting periodic travel for flight tests and customer demonstrations/support
- Mindset: Builder-tester who loves first-principles RF, rapid lab iteration, and getting hardware flying fast.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary, stock options and benefits, including health, vision and dental.
- 401K enrollment at 90 days.
- Generous PTO + most Federal Holidays observed.
- Collaborative and inclusive work environment.
- Access to the latest tools and technologies.
- High levels of responsibility and autonomy.
- Professional growth and development opportunities.
- Access to the hardest problems in electronic warfare.
CX2 is a next-generation defense technology company securing spectrum dominance for the United States and its allies. We build AI-enabled hardware and software platforms to detect, disrupt, and defend the electromagnetic spectrum across land, air, sea, and space. Our systems are deployed in the most contested operational environments in the world. We’re backed by leading venture investors in the defense ecosystem and led by founders with track records at Meta, SpaceX, Epirus, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Equal Opportunity Employer
CX2 is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in compliance with the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
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