Sr Radio Frequency Hardware Engineer

Company

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Engineering Group >
Cellular Technologies

The RF Hardware Engineer is responsible for the architecture, design, integration, validation, and optimization of RF hardware systems and subsystems supporting advanced wireless products and platforms. This role requires deep expertise in RF circuit design, RF system integration, PCB/layout considerations, measurement, characterization, and cross‑functional execution across product life cycles, from concept and feasibility through commercialization.

The position demands technical leadership, independent problem solving, and close collaboration with system, digital, software, and manufacturing teams to deliver robust, high‑performance RF solutions for modern wireless standards and emerging technologies.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 2+ years of Electrical Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 1+ year of Electrical Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
• PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field.

• Define RF hardware architectures and specifications derived from system‑level requirements, owning significant RF subsystems or end‑to‑end hardware blocks.
• Design, integrate, and optimize RF hardware circuits and subsystems, making design tradeoffs impacting performance, cost, schedule, and manufacturability.
• Lead RF bring‑up, debugging, tuning, and validation activities.
• Perform RF simulations, modeling, and sensitivity analysis.
• Execute and interpret RF measurements: S‑parameters, Noise figure, Linearity, Phase noise, EVM, Spurious and harmonics.
• Resolve complex RF performance and integration issues.
• Drive RF design reviews and contribute to cross‑disciplinary technical discussions, working closely with system engineering, digital and baseband teams, software and algorithm engineers, and manufacturing and test.
• Contribute to design documentation, technical reviews, and knowledge sharing.

• RF and microwave engineering
• Analog and mixed‑signal circuit design
• Electromagnetics and transmission lines
• Wireless communications and RF system theory
• Semiconductor devices and integrated circuits
• Signal processing fundamentals

• Hands‑on experience with PA, LNA, mixers, switches, matching networks, filters, and duplexers across sub‑6 GHz and/or mmWave bands.
• Proven ability to translate performance targets into detailed RF circuit implementations, covering schematic design, device selection, biasing, matching, layout considerations, and design tradeoffs impacting gain, noise, linearity, efficiency, and stability.
• Solid understanding of how component‑level design choices affect module‑ and product‑level performance, including EVM, ACLR, noise figure, output power, efficiency, and thermal behavior.

• Proven experience with full RF system simulations (end‑to‑end TX/RX chain), including cascaded nonlinear effects, impairments, and KPI evaluation.
• Proficiency using system simulation tools (e.g., System Vue/MATLAB) to evaluate waveform–PA–DPD interactions and performance envelopes.

• Working knowledge of OFDM‑based waveforms (e.g., 5G ) and their spectral/linearity implications on RF systems.
• Familiarity with system performance metrics used in standards and prototyping (ACLR, EVM, PAPR, spectral efficiency).

• Ability to work across RFIC, system, digital, and standards teams, supporting RAN contributions and prototype demonstrations.
• Technical leadership in problem decomposition, data‑driven decision making, and mentoring in complex RF system studies.

• Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, or a closely related field with 3+ years of…