Job Description
About Skyline Instruments:
Skyline Instruments is a veteran-led company in Charlottesville, Virginia building distributed sensing systems — custom hardware and software that close the gap between detection and response. We operate the full value chain, from materials and wafer-level fabrication (as a registered external user of the University of Virginia's IFAB facility) through RF and mixed-signal design, assembly, packaging, test, and system integration.
About the Role:
This is a builder's role. You will take optoelectronic and RF hardware from electromagnetic simulation through PCB layout, prototype assembly, and bench characterization — and see your designs fielded. We are not looking for an advisor to our problems; we are looking for a hands-on engineer who wants to build things. Ten or more years of experience is ideal, but extremely motivated engineers with fewer years of experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
What You'll Do:- Design and simulate optoelectronic and RF structures and interconnects in ANSYS HFSS
- Design PCBs — schematic capture through high-speed/RF layout
- Build, measure, and characterize prototypes on the bench (VNA, spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, optical instrumentation)
- Integrate and operate software-defined radio (SDR) platforms at the system and architecture level
- Work closely within a small engineering team; document and share your designs and results
Required Qualifications:- BS in Electrical Engineering
- Hands-on experience designing, building, and testing optoelectronic and/or RF hardware — 10+ years ideal; motivated engineers with less experience are encouraged to apply
- Proficiency with ANSYS HFSS
- PCB design experience (e.g., Altium, Cadence/Allegro, KiCad)
- Working knowledge of SDR architectures — what they are and how to use them (component-level SDR design is not required)
- Comfortable making laboratory measurements and working as part of a team
- U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance
- Willingness to relocate to, and work on-site in, Charlottesville, VAPreferred Qualifications
- MS in Electrical Engineering or a related field
- Device fabrication experience (semiconductor or photonic)
- Tape-out experience
- Familiarity with SDR toolchains such as GNU Radio and USRP hardware
- Experience using AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT) in engineering workflows Compensation & Location
- $110,000–$150,000 annually, negotiable based on experience
- Full-time, on-site in Charlottesville, Virginia
- Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- HSA offering
- 401K, Roth options Skyline Instruments is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
