What does a Senior RF Engineer do?

RF engineers provide focused electrical engineering services that specifically relate to the radio frequency environment. They work on or with devices that use radio wave signals, which generally involve telecommunications and the IT sector. Much of this work currently relates to cell phones and other mobile devices. These engineers perform development, design, modeling, testing, implementation, and troubleshooting services. They identify customer needs or market demands, and then help develop systems and solutions that address those needs.

RF engineers typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related discipline. They should have hands-on experience with development, testing, and modeling and tools and programs used for those tasks. These roles require highly developed analytical skills, problem solving abilities, and experience using testing equipment.

What responsibilities are common for Senior RF Engineer jobs?
  • Maintain tools and test equipment properly and ensuring they are calibrated.
  • Effectively engage commercial and HPM counterparts, identify potential sales leads and sales opportunities such as contract renewals, and assist with promoting and implementing revenue programs.
  • Perform work in an approved environment during specified work hours.
  • Escalate and remove obstacles when schedule, prioritization, and staffing conflicts exist among more than one program.
  • Ensure completion of all field modifications instructions (FMI's) within prescribed time frame (if applicable).
  • Finalize the electrical design, support prototype and final hardware build and test.
  • Identify opportunities to drive product improvements and Design For Install (DFI) initiatives based on lessons learned, benchmarking and best practices.
  • Aware of and comply with the applicable laws and regulations as they apply to this job type/position.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job may include color, close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
  • Prepare technical presentations, publish research papers, and prepare research proposals.
  • Collaborate with internal teams and PCB vendors to continually improve design rules, constraints and design for test and manufacture guidelines.
  • Generate major sections of proposals to support development of new business.
  • Keep up to date on administrative responsibilities.
  • Provide support to products throughout their life cycle from manufacturing to customer use by providing guidance and support to resolve complex issues.
  • Complete on-time and accurate preventive maintenance and field modification instruction as needed.
What are the typical qualifications for Senior RF Engineer jobs?
  • Bachelor's or Graduate's Degree in electrical engineering, computer science, engineering or mathematics, or equivalent experience.
  • Experience with C, MATLAB, EMI/EMC, and cloud software and systems.
  • Experience with PCB Design, RADAR Systems, Scala, and RF Optimization.
  • Demonstrated experience in calibration, antennas, amplifiers, communications systems, and schematic capture.
  • Experience with systems development, scripting, and debugging.
  • Is a natural leader and assists others.
EducationBachelor's Degree
Work/Life Balance
3.6 ★
Total Pay--
Career Opportunity
3.7 ★
Avg. Experience8+ years

How much does a Senior RF Engineer make near United States?

Confident
$173,065 /yr
Total Pay
$131,192
 /yr

Base Pay

+
$41,872
 /yr

Additional Pay

$173,065

 / yr
$114K$268K
Most Likely Range
Possible Range
See More Insights

Senior RF Engineer Career Path

Learn how to become a Senior RF Engineer, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.

Senior RF Engineer
$173,065/yr
Rf Engineer IV
$162,026/yr
Senior RF Engineer

Years of Experience Distribution

0 - 1
3%
2 - 4
31%
5 - 7
33%
8+
33%
Not including years spent in education and/or training

Senior RF Engineer Insights

Read what Senior RF Engineer professionals have to say about their job experiences and view top companies for this career.
Zia Semiconductor
Layout Engineer
Apr 24, 2023

“Best training plateform treats like you are his own student knowing you from 10th std.”

Keysight TechnologiesKeysight Technologies
Calibration Engineer
Jan 30, 2023

“Flexitime and good work”

RTXRTX
Engineering Fellow
Dec 30, 2021

“There is a lot of management overhead requiring unnecessary meetings and reporting beyond what is really needed.”

MosChipMosChip
Analog Layout Engineer
Jul 2, 2022

“Good good good good good”

EFJohnson TechnologiesEFJohnson Technologies
RF Technician
Aug 8, 2022

“Good good good good good”

INVECASINVECAS
Analog Layout Engineer
Nov 9, 2021

“Good seniors really helpful”

Infineon TechnologiesInfineon Technologies
RF Engineer
Jan 19, 2022

“Good work and life balance”

Ericsson-WorldwideEricsson-Worldwide
Senior RF Engineer
Feb 9, 2022

“You learn and develop an excellent career”

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Senior RF Engineer Interviews

Frequently asked questions about the roles and responsibilities of a Senior RF Engineer

When working as a Senior RF Engineer, the most common skills you will need to perform your job and for career success are Amplifiers, Antennas, Algorithms, Calibration, and Scala.

The most similar professions to Senior RF Engineer are:
  • Controls Engineer
  • Electrical Designer
  • Electrical Engineer
  • Engineer

The most common qualifications to become a Senior RF Engineer include a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree and an average of 0 - 1 years of experience not including years spent in education and/or training.

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Senior RF Engineer Jobs