Antenna Engineer

Socket.dev; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401k program

Paid time off

Job summary

TP-Link Systems Inc. is seeking an experienced Antenna Engineer to join our engineering team in Irvine, CA.

You will lead antenna design across multiple wireless technologies, perform simulations, tuning, and validation, and work with RF, EMC, and platform teams to ensure performance targets are met. You will own end‑to‑end development from concept through production ramp, mentor junior engineers, and help produce design documentation while aligning with regulatory and mass production

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electromagnetic field and microwave technology, RF engineering, or a related field.
• 3–7 years of antenna design experience.
• Hands‑on antenna development for wireless consumer electronics.
• Strong ability to deliver antenna concept design, simulation, and optimization.
• Solid fundamentals in RF and microwave engineering.
• Hands‑on experience with RF lab test instruments, network analyzers and anechoic chamber measurements.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate antenna requirements, technical feasibility, schedule, cost targets, and manufacturability for wireless products.
• Guide antenna placement, ground clearance, keep-out zones, matching circuit layout, and enclosure impact analysis with hardware and mechanical teams.
• Own multi-radio antenna concept design across Wi‑Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, Zigbee, DECT, UWB, and NFC.
• Lead end‑to‑end antenna test and validation, including passive characterization and active tuning.
• Produce comprehensive antenna design reports, simulation/test reports, and routing guidelines.
• Mentor early career antenna engineers and contribute to design standards and best practices.

Skills

Antenna design

RF engineering

Microwave theory

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in EM/RF

Tools

Network analyzers

Anechoic chamber

Job description

About Us

Headquartered in the United States, TP-Link Systems Inc. is a global provider of reliable networking devices and smart home products, consistently ranked as the world's top provider of Wi‑Fi devices. The company is committed to delivering innovative products that enhances people's lives through faster, more reliable connectivity. With commitment to excellence, TP-Link serves customers in over 170 countries and continues to grow its global footprint. We believe technology changes the world for the better! At TP-Link Systems Inc, we are committed to crafting dependable, high-performance products to connect users worldwide with the wonders of technology. Embracing professionalism, innovation, excellence, and simplicity, we aim to assist our clients in achieving remarkable global performance and enable consumers to enjoy a seamless, effortless lifestyle.

Overview

TP-Link Systems Inc. is seeking an experienced Antenna Engineer to join our engineering team. As an Antenna Engineer for home network products, you will participate in needs analysis and design feasibility assessments. You will be responsible for antenna architecture design, antenna simulation and optimization, PCB antenna layout review, antenna tuning and validation, RF performance issue debugging, and mass production support.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in early-stage product planning and project initiation by evaluating antenna‑related requirements, technical feasibility, schedule risks, cost targets, and manufacturability for wireless products.
• Work closely with hardware and mechanical engineering teams to guide antenna placement, ground clearance, keep‑out zones, matching circuit layout, and enclosure impact analysis.
• Own multi‑radio antenna concept design across Wi‑Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, Zigbee, DECT, UWB, and NFC, covering feasibility analysis, trade‑off evaluation, isolation design, and architecture planning.
• Lead end‑to‑end antenna test and validation, covering passive characterization, active performance tuning, and system integration/debug.
• Optimize design parameters and tuning strategies to ensure performance targets are met and deliver final acceptance.
• Support regulatory and compliance activities related to antenna performance, including FCC, SAR, and other wireless certification requirements.
• Own antenna manufacturing process design and production planning; establish standardized production flows and provide systematic solutions to technical bottlenecks and quality issues during manufacturing.
• Work cross‑functionally with RF, system, EMC, and platform teams to drive system‑level improvements in wireless performance.
• Produce comprehensive antenna design documentation, including design reports, simulation reports, test reports, technical documents, and antenna routing guidelines.
• Track industry and technology trends and conduct focused R&D initiatives; explore new antenna design approaches based on project needs and drive the engineering adoption of new materials and processes to enable continuous performance improvements.
• Mentor early career antenna engineers, provide technical guidance, and contribute to antenna team training, design standards, checklists, simulation guidelines, and best practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electromagnetic field and microwave technology, RF engineering, or a related field.
• 3-7 years of experience in antenna design and development for electronic products.
• Hands‑on experience in antenna development for wireless consumer electronics such as routers, smartphones, IoT devices, and CPE.
• Strong antenna design skills with the ability to independently deliver antenna concept design, simulation, and optimization.
• Solid fundamentals in RF and microwave engineering, with strong knowledge of electromagnetics, microwave theory, and antenna principles.
• Hands‑on experience with common RF lab test instruments, particularly network analyzers and anechoic chamber measurements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to improve system throughput (TCP/UDP) from an antenna/RF perspective, working closely with hardware and software teams to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks.
• Proficient in antenna design, tuning/matching, and validation testing; able to independently drive end‑to‑end antenna development from concept through production ramp.
• Clear and logical thinker with effective communication skills, strong cross‑functional collaboration ability, and a strong sense of responsibility.
• Experience with advanced antenna technologies (e.g., new materials, 3D printing, reconfigurable antennas) is a plus.
• Experience working with ODM/JDM partners, certification labs, RF labs, antenna vendors, and key component suppliers.

Salary and Benefits

Salary range: $140,000-$170,000 Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance (partial premium coverage for dependents) Employer quarterly contributions to 401k funds 15 days accrued vacation 11 paid holidays Bi-annual reviews, and annual pay increases Health and wellnes