RF HW Engineer

Job Title

RF HW Engineer

Role Summary

Design and validate board-level reference circuits and RF subsystems for Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth IoT and automotive chips. The role sits in the Connectivity / Hardware Engineering team and collaborates with system, firmware and software engineers to improve RF performance and implement custom functionality.

Primary activities include schematic/board design, RF performance verification, troubleshooting, and supporting EMI/certification efforts.

Experience Level

Mid-level to Senior. Typical experience range noted in the posting spans approximately 3–8 years depending on degree and prior industry experience (see Education Requirements for degree/experience combinations).

Responsibilities

The core responsibilities focus on hardware design and RF validation for Wi‑Fi/BT products.

• Design and review reference circuits and board layouts for RF front-ends and Wi‑Fi cards.
• Validate RF performance: sensitivity, TX power, ACPR, EVM, intermodulation, S-parameters.
• Troubleshoot RF performance issues across system, firmware, and software interactions.
• Operate RF test equipment (signal generators, spectrum analyzers, power meters, network analyzers, Litepoint) to characterize devices.
• Perform RF matching and DC power optimization to meet chip-level requirements.
• Support EMI/certification activities and design adjustments required for compliance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to implement custom RF functions.

Requirements

Required technical skills and experience; degree requirements are summarized separately under Education Requirements.

• Hands-on experience with board design tools such as OrCAD and Cadence Allegro.
• Practical circuit design experience and familiarity with Wi‑Fi card design.
• Strong RF knowledge and experience troubleshooting Wi‑Fi 6 / Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth RF performance.
• Experience using RF instrumentation (signal generators, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, power meters, Litepoint).
• Understanding of RF performance metrics and how they relate to system behavior.
• Good English communication skills and ability to work with geographically distributed teams.
• Must be able to support hands-on lab test and debug activities.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience in automotive or industrial product development.
• Experience with EMI certification processes and tools.
• Prior experience optimizing RF matching and DC power for chip-level requirements.

Education Requirements

The posting references formal degrees and degree/experience alternatives: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or a related field is listed as the minimum; a Master's degree is preferred and PhD is also accepted. The posting also describes degree/experience combinations used for qualification (examples include Bachelor's + 2+ years, Master's + 1+ year, or higher experience ranges such as Bachelor's with 5–8 years or Master's with 3–6 years depending on the listed qualification level). "Related field" and equivalent industry experience are referenced as acceptable substitutions in some qualification statements.

About the Company

Company: Qualcomm

Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States

Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.