Principal RF Electronics Engineer (AU) at DroneShield Group Pty Ltd – Sydney, New South Wales

Work with cutting edge AI technology, making the world a safer and more secure place. DroneShield (ASX:DRO) offers an opportunity to solve some of world’s most challenging technical problems in the rapidly growing counter-drone sector.

Our customers operate in some of the most challenging and high-stakes environments in the world, including military organisations, government agencies, airports, critical infrastructure operators, and law enforcement. Protecting airspace in these settings requires technology that performs under pressure and teams that understand what’s at stake. At DroneShield, employees work at the leading edge of counter-drone innovation, helping to address real-world security challenges as drone threats continue to evolve globally.

With one of the largest listed defence company market capitalisations in Australia, now part of the ASX200 index, DroneShield is experiencing a period of hypergrowth. Revenue has surged from A$57 million in 2024 to over A$190 million in 2025, representing growth of more than 400% year-on-year, with record profitability and cashflow. The total addressable global market for counter-drone is assessed at approximately $100 billion, and is currently at the nascent stage with much of the growth still to come, with DroneShield well positioned as a global market leader, and the only public listed pure-play business in this sector.

The company has grown from 11 employees in 2017 to over 450 staff globally today, and is on track to reach around 550 by the end of 2026. This expansion includes investment of over A$50 million annually in R&D, a global pipeline exceeding A$2.5 billion, and continuous scaling of production capacity to meet accelerating demand.

The role is based at DroneShield’s central Sydney headquarters. Overseas on-the-ground presence includes Virginia (USA), Netherlands, Denmark, Mexico and Dubai, as well as distributors in over 70 countries worldwide.

About the role

DroneShield is seeking a Principal RF Electronics Engineer with relevant experience to join the team in Sydney, Australia.

The position will report to the Electronics Team lead within product development.

The Product Development Team at Droneshield is focused on providing fully operational and qualified modular devices to enable new product development of high-end RF based sensors and effectors. These modules are re-used across various product configurations including man-portable, vehicle mounted and fixed site. Key technical challenges for the electronics aspect of these modules include the design of complex wide-band RF circuitry, high speed digital interface and high-power radio frequency output. DroneShield designs and builds the full signal chain from signal generation to antenna.

Expectations of this role in the RF Electronics Team will be focussed on the architecture of the system, working with other teams to ensure the next generation product remain class leading. This will include proposal next generation electronics architecture, guiding engineers on SCH/PCB design implementation, reviewing validation test plan development, troubleshooting existing design problems and hardware issue root-case analysis and resolution.

Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations

Lead the team on the RF Electronic Architecture and work on the core of Droneshields technology for accuracy, performance stability and maintenanceSelf-management of workload, methods and workflow to meet key business objectivesSchematic and PCB design using Altium, including contribution to component database and document templatesExpert knowledge with test equipment for validation of high-speed digital and RF interfaces, including training younger engineers for correct usageManufacturing test specification design and support for production setup & debuggingHardware design validation planning and execution on both a modular and system levelEmploying and developing sound industry practices for documentation and QCLeading manufacturing test specification design and support for production setup & debuggingMentoring and training of junior engineersQualifications, Experience and Skills

Degree in Electronics Engineering, similar technical field of study or equivalent practical experienceMinimum of 15 years’ experience in RF hardware design, test and production supportSeasoned experience using benchtop test equipment such as VNA’s, spectrum analyser and signal generatorsExperience in mentoring less experienced engineersSimulation experience using Microwave Office, ADS or similarSolid knowledge of link budget estimation and communications theoryExpert knowledge for receiver sensitivity principles such as cascaded noise figure, dynamic range and noise floor degradationSignificant experience in SCH and PCB design using AltiumSubstantial RF hardware design theory and experience. Isolation, matching networks, filter specificationsExperience in design of high-power RF amplifiers and linearisation techniquesExperience in hardware design principles for battery power device applicationsTheoretical and practical understanding of PCB layout techniques for high-speed digital and RF circuitryFamiliarity of applicable global and local radio standards for intentional radiatorsSignificant experience and working knowledge of AntennasDesirable experiences and skills

Leading projects or initiatives within a company environment Hardware design with integrated antennasRF filter specification and selection. Significant Design experience is expectedRF power amplifier design experience combined with implementing heat management principlesExperience architecting and developing transmitter RF front-end design up to 12 GHz and 100 WExperience architecting and developing receiver RF front-end design up to 10 GHz including filter, diplexer, splitters, and LNAComponent specification for RF components such as power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, solid-state switches, power dividers/combiners, couplersSoftware Defined Radio design experience is highly desirableKnowledge of mainstream RF modulation techniquesKnowledge and experience working with Multi-carrier combiningSignificant Antenna design would be an advantage

Note for recruitment agencies: we do not accept floated candidates from external recruiters unless they were instructed to do so.

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