Radio Frequency Hardware Engineer

Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Cellular Technologies

General Summary:

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 lifecycles, 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.

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Define RF hardware architectures and specifications derived from system-level requirements, owns significant RF subsystems or end-to-end hardware blocks
• Design, integrate, and optimize RF hardware circuits and subsystems, makes design tradeoffs impacting performance, cost, schedule, and manufacturability
• Lead RF bring-up, debug, 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 and work closely with:
  • System engineering
  • Digital and baseband teams
  • Software and algorithm engineers
  • Manufacturing and test
• Contribute to design documentation, technical reviews, and knowledge sharing

Required Fundamental Knowledge

• 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

Preferred Technical Expertise and Skills

RF Hardware Design and Prototyping

• 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.

System-Level Analysis & Simulation

• 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., SystemVue/MATLAB class environments) to evaluate waveform-PA-DPD interactions and performance envelopes.

Standards & Waveforms

• Working knowledge of OFDM-based waveforms (e.g., 5G NR) and their spectral/linearity implications on RF systems.

• Familiarity with system performance metrics used in standards and prototyping (ACLR, EVM, PAPR, spectral efficiency).

Cross-Functional & Leadership Skills

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, or a closely related field with 3+ years of professional experience in the RF hardware and RF system field, including RF circuit, module, or system-level design, integration, validation, and characterization.

OR

• Ph.D. Degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related discipline with 1+ years of professional, internship or post-doctoral experience in RF hardware and RF system design, including hands-on work in RF circuits, RF front-end architectures, or wireless system implementations beyond academic research.

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Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$99,400.00 - $149,200.00

The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer - and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.