RF Manufacturing Engineer

RF Manufacturing Engineer

Industry/Specialty: Advanced Electronics & RF Systems

Location: Greater Ridgewood, NJ area

A rapidly expanding innovator in RF and microwave technologies is seeking a skilled RF Manufacturing Engineer to strengthen and scale its production capabilities. This is a mission-critical role supporting operations and process excellence in the manufacturing of high-performance electronic systems used in sectors such as aerospace, defense, and telecommunications.

The ideal candidate brings a deep understanding of RF product manufacturing, hands-on process leadership, and experience driving efficiency and compliance across engineering and production environments. This position offers an exceptional pathway to grow into an operations leadership role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and optimize RF manufacturing processes to ensure high first-pass yields, on-time delivery, and quality excellence.
• Develop and document standardized processes to support certification readiness (including for industry-specific standards).
• Champion a process-driven culture across teams, guiding operators and staff through continuous improvement practices.
• Identify and scope resourcing and staffing needs to support growth and scalability in manufacturing.
• Launch and manage cross-functional improvement initiatives using project management best practices.
• Translate engineering designs (electrical, mechanical, and RF schematics) into production-ready processes.

What Success Looks Like

• Manufacturing workflows are streamlined and yield consistent quality output.
• Teams adopt process ownership and contribute to a culture of accountability and efficiency.
• Product ramp-ups from prototype to full-scale production meet quality, cost, and timeline targets.
• Milestone progress is achieved toward operational certifications and industry compliance.

Candidate Profile

• 10 years of experience in RF-focused manufacturing engineering, ideally in high-mix, low-to-mid volume environments.
• Background in sectors like high-power RF amplifiers, telecom systems, filters, or related RF hardware.
• Proven track record of scaling production and implementing KPIs, SOPs, and lean/6-Sigma methodologies.
• Comfortable bridging the gap between big company systems and small/mid-sized company agility (i.e., $20M range operations).
• Adept at collaborating across departments, from engineering to the production floor.

Technical Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical or RF Engineering (or related field).
• Strong working knowledge of AutoCAD, P&ID diagrams, and 3D mechanical design tools.
• Familiarity with CNC, assembly line techniques, and RF testing workflows.
• Experience with military-grade standards and interpreting regulatory and customer specifications.
• Mastery of tools like MS Project, Excel, and documentation platforms for process control and planning.

Bonus Experience

• Exposure to AS9100, ISO9001, or similar compliance frameworks.
• Expertise in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma certification, or comparable continuous improvement systems.
• Prior involvement in start-to-finish plant certifications or operational overhauls.

Soft Skills & Attributes

• Passionate about process ownership and team enablement.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to get tactical and hands-on as needed.
• Natural leader who thrives in cross-functional environments and dynamic conditions.
• Strong communicator with an ability to coach and influence across teams and disciplines.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary.
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision, disability).
• Retirement plans (401k), generous PTO, and relocation support available.
• Clear advancement pathway toward operational leadership.

About Blue Signal:

Blue Signal is an award-winning, executive search firm specializing in various specialties. Our recruiters have a proven track record of placing top-tier talent across industry verticals, with deep expertise in numerous professional services. Learn more at bit.ly/46Gs4yS