RF Electrical Engineer

Job Title: RF Hardware Engineer

Location: Redmond, WA OR Burlingame, CA (Preference for Redmond; WA, Burlingame can be considered for strong candidates)

Duration: 6 Months+

Employment Type: Contract W2

We are seeking an experienced RF Research Engineer to design, develop, and validate next-generation wireless hardware systems. This role will focus on RF hardware design, schematic development, PCB layout support, simulation, characterization, and system validation for advanced consumer electronic devices and research platforms.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with RF front-end design, board bring-up, RF debugging, and performance optimization, along with a strong foundation in wireless communication systems.

Responsibilities

Develop RF schematics and support PCB layout activities for advanced hardware systems.

Partner with manufacturing and vendor teams to ensure design-for-manufacturing (DFM) requirements are met.

Perform RF link budget analysis and troubleshoot RF-related issues in laboratory environments.

Conduct RF circuit simulations, electromagnetic (EM) simulations, and system performance evaluations.

Optimize and validate RF conducted performance at component, board, and system levels.

Collaborate with hardware, antenna, test, and cross-functional engineering teams to achieve product performance targets.

Support board bring-up, characterization, debugging, and performance tuning activities.

Analyze test results and drive design improvements for reliability and performance.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.

3+ years of experience in RF hardware design for consumer electronics or wireless products.

Experience with RF front-end design and SoC-based hardware systems.

Strong background in schematic capture, PCB layout review, and board bring-up.

Hands-on experience using RF laboratory equipment for characterization, debugging, and validation.

Experience with RF circuit simulation and electromagnetic (EM) simulation tools.

Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's or PhD in RF Engineering, Electromagnetics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.

5+ years of industry experience in RF hardware development.

Experience with PCB design tools such as Cadence or Altium.

Experience developing and validating Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular, or other wireless communication systems.

Understanding of antenna integration, RF performance optimization, and wireless device certification requirements.

Desired Technical Skills

RF Hardware Design

RF Front-End Design

PCB Design & Layout

Board Bring-Up & Debugging

RF Characterization & Validation

RF Link Budget Analysis

RF Circuit Simulation

Electromagnetic (EM) Simulation

Wi-Fi / Bluetooth Technologies

Cellular Communications

Cadence Allegro

Altium Designer