Principal Product Engineer at Impinj

Matcha; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Impinj is seeking a Senior RF Product Engineer to lead the technical strategy for RF product engineering across a product family, driving cross-functional collaboration with hardware, firmware, test, systems, and manufacturing to scale production and optimize yields.

This role requires deep RF, analog, and digital circuit expertise, proficiency with data analysis tools, and strong leadership to mentor engineers and influence architectural decisions across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, computer engineering or related technical field.
• Demonstrated experience in product engineering with wireless, RF, and/or network products.
• Prior experience with RF, analog, and digital circuits.
• Proficiency with PLM, database, and data analysis tools.
• Experience partnering with manufacturing operations teams and contract manufacturers.
• Expertise analyzing circuits and debugging complex circuit problems using spectrum analyzer, vector network analyzer, signal generator, and power meter.
• Expertise with Spotfire or other statistical analysis tools.
• Deep expertise with Python or other scripting tools.
• Demonstrated technical leadership with broad organizational impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical strategy for RF product engineering across an entire product family, test methodology, yield optimization, and production scaling.
• Drive cross‑organization initiatives partnering with hardware, firmware, test, systems, customer support, IT, operations, and executive leadership.
• Qualify new product hardware, firmware, and functional test approaches for production.
• Serve as the primary technical leader and point‑of‑contact with contract manufacturers for troubleshooting and resolving production, yield, NPI, RMA, and test issues.
• Mentor senior engineers, elevating technical decision‑making, and strengthening engineering leadership across the organization.
• Design and lead complex experiments to deepen understanding of product performance and test system operations, resolving yield and product performance issues.
• Continuously improve products and processes using statistical process control, pareto analysis, 8D, trend charts, and histogram analysis.
• Travel to Asia once per year to meet with our contract manufacturers or as required based on business need.

Skills

Technical leadership

Cross‑functional collaboration

Written & verbal communication

Problem solving

Mentoring

RF/wireless/product engineering

Team leadership

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering or related field

Tools

Spectrum analyzer

Vector network analyzer

Signal generator

Power meter

Spotfire

Python

PLM / data analysis tools

Job description

Impinj is a leading RAIN RFID provider and Internet of Things pioneer. We’re inventing ways to connect every thing to the Internet —including retail apparel, retail general merchandise, healthcare items, automobile parts, airline baggage, food and much more. With more than 100 billion items connected to date, and multiple Fortune 500 enterprises around the world using our platform, we solve for a better understanding of our world.If it’s a thing, we’re working to connect it.Join Impinj and help us realize ourvision of a boundless IoT— connecting trillions of everyday items to the Internet.

Team Overview:

The Product Engineering team drives new RFID reader products from concept to market, owning the full introduction lifecycle. We run DfX and reliability reviews, test hardware and firmware to their limits, secure regulatory approvals worldwide, and hand off to manufacturing. Then we stay with the product: tuning factory yield, building and maintaining functional test systems, analyzing customer returns, and qualifying alternate components when supply shifts.

What You Will Do:

• Lead the technical strategy for RF product engineering across an entire product family, test methodology, yield optimization, and production scaling

• Drive cross‑organization initiatives partnering with hardware, firmware, test, systems, customer support, IT, operations, and executive leadership

• Qualify new product hardware, firmware, and functional test approaches for production

• Serve as the primary technical leader and point-of-contact with contract manufacturers for troubleshooting and resolving production, yield, NPI, RMA, and test issues
• Mentor senior engineers, elevating technical decision‑making, and strengthening engineering leadership across the organization

• Design and lead complex experiments to deepen understanding of product performance and test system operations, resolving yield and product performance issues

• Continuously improve products and processes using statistical process control, pareto analysis, 8D (eight disciplines), trend charts, and histogram analysis
• Travel to Asia once per year to meet with our contract manufacturers or as required based on business need

What You Will Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, computer engineering or related technical field with 15 years of experience

• Demonstrated experience in product engineering with wireless, RF, and/or network products

• Prior experience with RF, analog, and digital circuits

• Demonstrated proficiency with PLM, database, and data analysis tools
• Experience partnering with manufacturing operations teams and contract manufacturers
• Expertise analyzing circuits and debugging complex circuit problems using equipment such as spectrum analyzer, vector network analyzer, signal generator, and power meter
• Expertise with Spotfire or other statistical analysis tools
• Deep expertise with Python or other scripting tools
• Demonstrated technical leadership with broad organizational impact, able to influence architecture decisions, drive cross-functional alignment, and deliver results through others
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical tradeoffs clearly to both engineering and product audiences

Compensation & Benefits:

The benefits listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Impinj and the country where you work.

The typical base pay range for this role across the US is$185,000 - $277,600. Individual base pay depends on various factors such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties, requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Both market wage data and the mid-point of the pay range is reviewed and used as the starting point for all new hire offers. Offers are made within the base pay range applicable at the time.
At Impinj certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, annual bonus and stock. These awards are allocated based on individual performance. In addition, certain roles also have the opportunity to earn sales incentives based on revenue or utilization, depending on the terms of the plan and the employee’s role. US based employees have access to healthcare benefits; a 401(k) plan and company match among others.

For a more comprehensive list of US employment benefits, clickhere.

US Export Controls:

This position has access to technologies or data subject to U.S. export control regulations. Under these laws, the release or transfer of export-controlled items or information to individuals who are not classified as "U.S. persons" (as defined by Immigration & Nationality Act) may require prior authorization from the U.S. government. We may require additional documentation related to national identity to determine whether an export compliance license is required for any export-controlled items. This information is requested solely for the purpose of complying with U.S. export control laws and will not be used for other purposes. Learn more about export compliance here.

Why work at Impinj:

Know you’re making a difference. Competitive benefits. Support for remote work or a desk with a view. Weekly Q&A sessions with our executive team. Impinj provides an environment that fosters openness and innovation and is developing technology that delivers a positive impact on the world. Collaboration and teamwork are highly valued, and accomplishments are duly celebrated. We have an open paid time-off policy paired with a respect for work/life balance. Our headquarters is located in Seattle with spectacular views of the Olympics, Lake Union, and Mt Baker, which can be enjoyed from our rooftop deck. Our Brazilian site is in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, at “Tecnopuc,” a technology park that offers a very nice workplace for the development of groundbreaking technologies. Impinj is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.