Principal Research & Development (R&D) Engineer

Motorola Solutions; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive bonus plans

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Generous paid time-off packages

Employee stock purchase plan

Paid parental & family leave

Job summary

Motorola Solutions is seeking a Principal Research & Development Engineer to lead R&D projects in wireless technology based in Irvine, CA. You will be responsible for overseeing technical project management, including the design and testing of wireless systems while managing a team of engineers.

The ideal candidate will have an M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering field and a minimum of 10 years of experience. This is a hybrid position with 3 onsite days required. Competitive compensation and benefits are offered, including medical, dental, and 401(k) plans.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in wireless systems design and development.
• Participation in the complete technology development cycle: design to field testing.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen due to government contract requirements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee technical management of R&D projects and programs.
• Supervise a team of engineers to fulfill project needs.
• Participate in business development and proposal preparation.

Skills

C/C++

MATLAB

Python

Technical writing

Proposal preparation

Digital communication

Education

M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or related field

Job description

Job Description

Principal Research & Development (R&D) Engineer who will report to the Vice President of Research & Development on the R&D team. The successful individual will oversee and participate in planning, design, implementation, prototyping, and verification of wireless technology projects.

This position is based at Silvus Technologies' headquarters in West Los Angeles, CA, and is on a hybrid schedule. A minimum of 3 days onsite per week is expected with onsite days on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Role and Responsibilities

• Technical management of Research and Development projects and programs to include:
  • Overall system design and requirement specification.
  • Setting and tracking development schedules and tasks.
  • Hands‑on design, simulation, and verification work.
  • Overseeing relevant simulation, software, FPGA, and testing efforts.
  • Customer‑facing engagement and technical material preparation when needed.
  • Reporting to management as required for strategic planning and assessment.
• Participation in Research and Development business development and capture efforts to include:
  • Whitepaper and proposal preparation.
  • Understanding current technology and pitching future enhancements and strategies.
  • Communicating engagement with government and industry via telephone, email, or in‑person.
• Collaboration within the senior Research and Development team on the following:
  • Execution of larger, team‑wide projects.
  • Setting a comprehensive team‑wide technology portfolio and pipeline.
• Supervisory/Management Responsibilities:
  • Supervise a team of engineers to fulfill functions or project needs.
  • Draft job descriptions and screen/interview engineering candidates.
• Travel Requirements – Infrequent travel to support customer interactions, test and demonstration events, or for team meetings at Los Angeles, CA headquarters or other locations.
• Perform other related duties as representative of the position.

Required Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related communication and/or engineering technology field (e.g., wireless communications, signal processing, networking, RF design).
• Minimum 10 years of experience in the design and development of wireless systems.
• Five years of demonstrated experience in technical project leadership (principal investigator, technical program management).
• Participation in the complete technology development cycle: design to field testing.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen due to clients under U.S. government contracts.
• All employment is contingent upon successful clearance of a background check and drug test.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Simulation and prototyping software: C/C++, MATLAB, Python.
• Radio frequency propagation, channel modeling, and digital communication.
• Wireless ad‑hoc mesh networking, medium access, and routing algorithms.
• Signal processing algorithms, MIMO, OFDM, beam‑nulling.
• Cognitive radio in congested and contested spectrum, interference mitigation.
• Radio frequency sensing, signal detection, classification.
• Technical writing, proposal preparation, and technical presentation.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Office environment with occasional exposure to heat, cold, and allergens while performing tests or demonstrations in the field.
• Require lifting equipment up to 20 lbs, bending and reaching movements, kneeling or squatting to access lower shelves, walking/moving in the labs.

Compensation

$180,000 – $250,000 per year.

Benefits

• Incentive bonus plans
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) with company match
• 10 paid holidays
• Generous paid time‑off packages
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid parental & family leave
• And more!

EEO Statement

Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic.