A system and method for fabricating a mandrel wound antenna are provided. The method includes securing a first end of a wire to a first portion of a mandrel tool, where the mandrel tool includes a faceplate supporting a plurality of posts, and the posts arranged and disposed to define non-overlapping circumferential patterns. The method also includes wrapping the wire around outer peripheries of the plurality of posts to form non-overlapping wire coils around the plurality of circumferential patterns to provide an antenna. The method further includes securing a second end of the wire to a second portion of the mandrel tool, cutting the wire in proximity to the second end, attaching the antenna to a substrate separate from the faceplate, and detaching the antenna from the faceplate.