Hiring RF Design Engineer

Department: Engineering
Reports To: Vice President of Product Development
Last Updated: 5.24.2024
Location:  Tucson, AZ
Status & Salary: Exempt, Salaried, Full-Time.

Summary of Role

The RF Component Design Engineer specializes in designing and optimizing printed circuit boards (PCBs) for radio frequency (RF) applications. They play a critical role in ensuring efficient and reliable RF communication systems. Integral to this position, they engage collaboratively with other technical and managerial members.

Essential Duties

  1. PCB Design:
    • Create and optimize RF PCB layouts, considering factors like impedance matching, signal integrity, and electromagnetic interference (EMI).
    • Collaborate with electrical engineers and system architects to define PCB requirements.
  2. Component Selection:
    • Choose appropriate components (such as RF connectors, filters, amplifiers, and transmission lines) for the PCB design.
    • Evaluate trade-offs between performance, cost, and manufacturability.
  3. Simulation and Analysis:
    • Use simulation tools (e.g., Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro) to model and analyze RF circuits.
    • Verify designs for RF performance, power consumption, and thermal management.
  4. Prototyping and Testing:
    • Build and test PCB prototypes to validate design concepts.
    • Collaborate with test engineers to perform RF testing (e.g., S-parameters, noise figure, gain).
  5. Regulatory Compliance:
    • Ensure PCB designs comply with industry standards (e.g., FCC, EMC, EMI).
    • Address any regulatory issues during the design process.
  6. Documentation:
    • Create detailed design documentation, including schematics, layout files, and bill of materials (BOM).
    • Maintain version control and revision history.

 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with medical limitations or disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Proficiency in PCB design software (e.g., Altium Designer, Eagle, KiCad).
  • Understanding of RF principles, transmission lines, and impedance matching.
  • Familiarity with RF test equipment (e.g., network analyzers, spectrum analyzers).
  • Strategic thinker with a passion for development. Able to process new information quickly, logically, and autonomously to solve problems or challenges. Able to apply general rules to specific problems to produce sensible and reasonable answers.
  • Able to identify opportunities for improvement and champion change that supports our vision and values. 
  • Strong interpersonal skills which positively benefit interaction with internal and external clientele; Comfortable working in a team environment.
  • Able to independently research and learn new information, systems, or programs to incorporate into their role or disseminate to other employees. 
  • Good comprehension and communication skills, with the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through verbal communication; 
  • Strong time management skills; Must be detail-oriented, able to plan, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment; Effectively self-manages to accomplish short-term and long-term goals or tasks. 
  • Appropriate level of administrative and computer use experience and skills. 
  • Ability to exercise good judgment and self-control.
  • Demonstrated ability to operate safely in the workplace, with experience holding themselves accountable to safety standards.
  • Self-motivated, dedicated to being current technically, and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Strong understanding of company missions and goals and how they relate to our customer service standards.

Minimum Qualifications

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or a related field.
  • A minimum of five years of experience in a related work environment is required, and eight years is preferred.
  • Proficiency in PCB design software (e.g., Altium Designer, Eagle, KiCad).
  • Understanding of RF principles, transmission lines, and impedance matching.
  • Familiarity with RF test equipment (e.g., network analyzers, spectrum analyzers).
  • Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with medical limitations or disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Must be able to operate in a laboratory environment, working in and around critical hardware. 
  • Able to comfortably lift 25 lb.
  • Able to work on a computer for extended periods of time. 
  • Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.

About FreeFall Aerospace

Founded in 2016 as a spin-off from the University of Arizona, FreeFall Aerospace is developing low-cost antenna solutions for ground and space. The company’s innovative antenna systems use its patented technologies to fill critical gaps in the antenna industry for commercial and government customers. For comprehensive information about FreeFall Aerospace and its cutting-edge communications solutions, visit www.freefallaerospace.com.


Email resumé and cover letter to info@freefallaerospace.com