RF & Antenna Engineer (m/f/*)

About PIDSO

For over 15 years, PIDSO has been developing high-performance communication solutions “Made in Austria” – built for environments where failure is not an option.

Our antenna and RF systems enable reliable data transmission and signal processing in mission-critical applications across aerospace, defense, motorsport, automotive, and Industry 4.0.

We combine research, development, manufacturing, and testing under one roof. Fast, focused, and with uncompromising attention to detail.

Location: Vienna
Division: R&D

Reporting Line: Head of R&D

Language: English (must), German (plus)

Tasks

The Mission

We don't build antennas.

We build communication systems that people depend on when nothing else can fail.

At PIDSO, our RF and antenna technologies power radar, satellite communication and tracking systems operating in mission-critical environments where every dB matters, every gram matters, and reliability is non-negotiable.

As an experienced RF & Antenna Engineer, you'll own the complete engineering journey—from the first electromagnetic concept through simulation, prototyping, laboratory validation and product qualification. You'll develop advanced microwave and millimeter-wave antenna systems, translate complex system requirements into manufacturable aerospace-grade products, and work alongside experts in FPGA, DSP, Embedded Software, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering to solve engineering challenges that have no textbook answers.

Great antenna systems are never an accident.

They are engineered. Simulated. Measured. Challenged. Redesigned. Optimized.

Key Responsibilities

• Antenna Design: Design and optimize microwave and millimeter-wave antennas, including phased arrays, planar antennas, feeds, horns, reflectors, and tracking antenna systems.
• Electromagnetic Simulation: Perform full-wave 3D electromagnetic simulations using Ansys HFSS or CST Studio Suite, including antenna elements, arrays, feed networks, radomes, and platform integration.
• RF System Engineering: Define antenna and RF architectures based on system-level requirements such as frequency range, gain, polarization, beamwidth, sidelobe level, scanning range, EIRP, G/T, efficiency, and link-budget constraints.
• Phased-Array Development: Design and analyze active or passive antenna arrays, including element coupling, beamforming, phase and amplitude control, grating lobes, scan loss, and calibration concepts.
• Prototyping & Integration: Work closely with mechanical, electronics, embedded, and systems engineers to develop RF hardware and integrate antennas into radar, Satcom, and tracking platforms.
• Measurement & Validation: Plan and conduct antenna and RF measurements using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters, and near-field or far-field antenna measurement systems.
• Design Optimization: Correlate simulation and measurement results, perform tolerance and sensitivity analyses, identify root causes of performance deviations, and implement design improvements.
• Manufacturing Support: Develop designs suitable for PCB, waveguide, machined, additive, or hybrid manufacturing processes and support suppliers during prototype and series production.
• Qualification & Compliance: Contribute to environmental and product qualification activities, including thermal, vibration, shock, EMC, and RF performance testing.
• Technical Documentation: Produce design descriptions, simulation reports, test plans, measurement reports, interface specifications, and requirements traceability in line with EN9100 processes.

Requirements

Your Profile

• Education: MSc, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Microwave Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related technical field.
• Professional Experience: At least 5 years of relevant industry experience in RF, microwave, or antenna development, ideally for radar, Satcom, aerospace, defense, or high-frequency communication systems.
• Antenna Expertise: Strong knowledge of antenna theory, electromagnetic fields, microwave engineering, impedance matching, polarization, array theory, propagation, and RF link budgets.
• Millimeter-Wave Experience: Demonstrated experience designing and validating components or antennas at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies.
• Simulation Tools: Advanced practical experience with Ansys HFSS and/or CST Studio Suite. Familiarity with MATLAB, Python, or equivalent tools for analysis and design automation is advantageous.
• RF Measurement Skills: Hands-on experience with vector network analyzers and other RF laboratory equipment. Experience with antenna chambers, near-field scanning, or far-field measurement ranges is highly desirable.
• Design for Manufacturing: Understanding of RF PCB materials, transmission lines, connectors, waveguides, machining tolerances, surface finishes, assembly effects, and manufacturing variability.
• Systems Perspective: Ability to translate radar, Satcom, or tracking-system requirements into antenna and RF subsystem specifications and engineering trade-offs.
• Quality Mindset: Structured and detail-oriented approach to requirements, verification, configuration control, and technical documentation. Experience with EN9100, ECSS, or comparable aerospace standards is a plus.
• Tools: Familiarity with Git-based workflows and the Atlassian suite, including Jira and Confluence. Experience with RF PCB or mechanical CAD tools is advantageous.
• Soft Skills: Independent and proactive problem-solver with strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate technical decisions across multidisciplinary teams.
• Language: Professional proficiency in English; German is an advantage.

Benefits

Why Join PIDSO?

At PIDSO, engineering isn't hidden behind layers of management.

You'll take technical ownership of antenna systems from the first concept through simulation, prototype testing, system integration and qualification—developing advanced RF technology for radar, satellite communication and tracking applications.

The role combines cutting-edge millimeter-wave engineering with direct access to hardware, laboratories and real-world validation. You'll work alongside experts in RF, FPGA, DSP, Embedded Software and Mechanical Engineering who genuinely enjoy solving complex technical challenges together.

Your ideas become prototypes. Your prototypes become products. Your products are deployed in mission-critical environments where performance, precision and reliability are non-negotiable.

We don't measure engineering excellence by the number of publications.

We measure it by building technology that performs where failure is not an option.

Salary

For this position, the minimum salary according to the Kollektivvertrag Metallgewerbe (Verwendungs-gruppe IV, 6 years) is € 4.132,15 gross per month, with a clear willingness to overpay based on your existing projects and technical skills.

Interested?

Send us your application (Cover Letter, CV and relevant certificates)!

Please include your name and the position you are applying for in the subject line. We look forward to hearing from you!