EM / RF Engineer I – Aerospace EMP - 1670
SARA Inc
Summary
The SARA, Inc. Aerospace EMP Survivability and Effects Department, within the High-Power Electromagnetics Division (HPEM), is looking for a remarkably talented, motivated, and imaginative EM/RF Engineer to support EMP hardening and assessment activities on aircraft and ground-based facilities and transition innovative technologies to the DoD, DoE, and their contractors. This position will work onsite in our Cypress, CA facility.
Job description
Core Responsibilities
- Support aircraft and other aerospace-related or ground-based EMP assessments, including travel to airfields and facilities (CONUS and OCONUS)
- Perform aircraft hardening design efforts
- Perform research, design, development, fabrication, testing, and documentation of multidisciplinary engineering tasks on multiple projects and programs
- Write detailed technical reports and maintain comprehensive project documentation
- Operate, monitor, and maintain test equipment, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems
- Ensure accuracy, consistency, and integrity of measurements, data collection, and test records
- Analyze test data and observations to identify trends, validity, and potential issues
- Moderate to significant travel may be required (up to 30% a year)
Key Competencies
- Proficient in the use of oscilloscopes, multimeters, and other electrical measurement instruments for troubleshooting and analysis
- Demonstratable knowledge of voltage/current transformers, the fundamentals of their operation, and their applications in electrical systems
- Skilled in operating benchtop lab equipment, including function generators, signal generators, power supplies, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, pulsers and related instruments
- Familiar with process of data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation
- Knowledge of voltage and current measurement devices and their applications
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Highly adaptable with the ability to thrive in dynamic, fast-paced team-oriented environments
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or relevant field
- 0 – 2 years of experience in electrical engineering or related work
- Hands-on testing and debugging experience involving spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, pulsers, or other EMI/EMC devices
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Self-motivation and the willingness to develop new skills, take on a wide variety of tasks, work and think independently, and ask questions
- Must be available for up to 30% travel in support of testing or other customer requirements
- US Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance
- Moderate physical effort, involving standing, sitting, and use of hands while performing duties, to include carrying or lifting up to 50 pounds
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Electromagnetics, including RF or EMI/EMC, Aerospace Engineering, or Pulsed Power
- 2 - 4 years of experience in electrical engineering or related work
- Basic programming experience (e.g. Matlab, VBA, SQL, LabVIEW, and/or Python) for data analysis and test automation
- Software front end/back-end development for controlling lab electronic test equipment
- Demonstrated understanding of fundamental power systems concepts, including transmission line theory, transformer operations, and three-phase power principles
- Active Top Secret security clearance
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or relevant field
- 0 – 2 years of experience in electrical engineering or related work
- Hands-on testing and debugging experience involving spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, pulsers, or other EMI/EMC devices
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Self-motivation and the willingness to develop new skills, take on a wide variety of tasks, work and think independently, and ask questions
- Must be available for up to 30% travel in support of testing or other customer requirements
- US Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance
- Moderate physical effort, involving standing, sitting, and use of hands while performing duties, to include carrying or lifting up to 50 pounds
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Disability & Life Insurance
- Generous PTO
- Tuition & Certification Reimbursement
- Flexible Work Schedules
- Discretionary Employee Bonuses
- 401(k) Match/Profit Sharing
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Company overview
Scientific Applications & Research Associates (SARA), Inc. is a specialized defense technology company founded in 1989 that develops innovative solutions for national security and defense applications. With over 35 years of experience, SARA specializes in directed and detected wave energy technologies spanning EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse), ELF (Extremely Low Frequency), laser light, HPM (High-Power Microwave), and acoustics. The company's core expertise includes RF/EMP engineering, threat warning systems, pulsed power technologies, and advanced sensing solutions. SARA serves defense and homeland security sectors with customized products such as RF sensors, hostile fire warning systems, measurement and analysis systems, pulsers, and RF shielding solutions. Their engineering team provides comprehensive testing services, rapid prototyping, and EM modeling capabilities, with the ability to deploy globally within US ITAR restrictions. As an employee-owned company with 201-500 employees, SARA maintains headquarters in Cypress, California, with additional operations in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The company prides itself on partnering closely with customers to develop practical, cost-effective solutions for force protection, renewable energy, UAVs, small robotics, and specialized testing challenges.